The Boot and Shoe School was extended in 1937, and from the Bill of Quantities and Specification of Work to be done, we can not only see what was done to the school, but gain an insight into how such contracts were carried out at that time. First of all, there were general conditions laid down which the contractor had to abide by. Then the work to be done was listed, and this was followed by conditions of work for the different trades - carpenters and joiners, plasterers, smiths and ironfounders, plumbers and glaziers, and painters.

The general conditions on the contractor included the following clauses:

The Contractor shall cart away all debris and rubbish from time to time and on completion, clean all windows and wash all floors on completion.

The Contractor shall pay such rates of wages and observe such hours of labour as are accepted as normal in the industry

The Contractor shall at his own cost provide, and at all times keep on the site, first aid equipment

The Contractor shall provide, erect, maintain and finally remove, suitable storage sheds for materials.

The Contractor shall provide latrines for the use of workmen in positions approved by the county architect and the local authority, and shall keep them in a clean and sanitary condition, removing them and making good on completion.

The Contractor shall provide a shed and fuel for the workmen to prepare meals.

• Demolition of the outside offices and heating chamber

  Plan showing some of the alterations to be done at the Boot and Shoe School

• Work to the Girl’s entrance from Rectory Road
• Removal of a cupboard on the west side of the closing room
• Block up the door to the closing room and make another, opening the opposite way
• Remove the present porch to the Victoria Rd entrance
• Remove the wooden partition wall between the closing room and lecture rooms
• New window in the library
• New window in the Principal’s room and WC
• New 9” brick wall between library and Principal’s room
• New brick pier to support one end of the RS joist over the library
• New wooden partition walls to the library and enquiries
• New ceiling to the corridor between the clicking room and the library
• New gable end to the machinery hall
• New 18” by 18” brick pier to support RS joist which will carry the south wall of J.T. Classroom
• New door to the first floor store
• Raising existing 9” gable ends to suit the extensions

The artificial stone for the extensions was to be obtained from the Excelsior Patent Stone Company at Finedon.

Plan of the basement showing the heating chamber and fuel store

Carpenters and joiners were to provide:

A door and screen between the staff lavatory and cloakroom
A screen to the entrance lobby
An external door to the offices
Doors and divisions to the outside WC’s
A door and partition to the first floor cloakroom
Hat and coatstands in the ground floor cloakroom
A platform for tanks in roof space

A number of conditions were laid down for the plasters:

The cement must on no account be used fresh, but is to be spread out for at least 2 weeks to cool

Laths to be riven laths of lath and half strength and free from all defects

The lime to be well burnt Buxton Lime of the very best quality and it is to be run for at least 8 weeks before use.

NB The site is very restricted and there is no room available for a pit in which to run the lime. The contractor must therefore make arrangements to have this done elsewhere but care must be taken that there will be no chance of any foreign matter being introduced into the lime before use.

The hair to be long, strong cow or goat hair, clean and free from grease and all foreign matter, and is to be well beaten.

The smith and ironfounder had the following instructions:

The whole of the iron and steel work is to be painted with one coat before leaving the works

All iron and steel work to be of British manufacture from an approved firm and of the best description, free from flaws, air bubbles and other imperfections

Allow the sum of £40 for new Wrought Iron railing and double gates to the Victoria Rd frontage, for re fixing the existing single entrance gate and for lengthening the back stays to the present fencing on the eastern boundary

Allow £12 for the provision of a Wrought Iron balustrade and handrails to the staircase

Allow £500 for steel windows

Allow £90 for steel lantern lights including lead flashing

The plumber and glazier’s work was to conform to these conditions:

All lead to be best English milled lead, uniform in thickness and texture and free from cracks and other defects

To provide 3 new WC sets, including white glazed pedestal basins, and refix 3 WC sets previously specified to be taken out.

All glass to be of best quality and well bedded and backed in with Bon Accord Steel Sash Putty made by Farquhar and Gill, North of Scotland Colour Works, Aberdeen

Lastly, the painter had rules to obey:

All paint other than white must be tinted by the makers and nothing added by the contractors

All paint to be supplied in and used from tins bearing the maker’s name, and no other tins to be allowed on site.

All paint to be supplied by Nobel Chemical Finishes Ltd of Slough

The contract was awarded to T. Swindall and Sons, Builders and Contractors, of Station Road, Rushden and was dated 5 June 1937. The firm was to carry out the works specified for the extending and remodelling of the school in a good, efficient and workmanlike manner, within the space of eight months. The work was to be done for the sum of £5,039, and in order to ensure the terms of the contract were fulfilled, Herbert Charles Swindall and Thomas James Swindall entered into a bond with the National Provincial Bank. The amount of the bond was £1259 15s (75p) and if the firm failed to carry out the work in the time specified and to the satisfaction of the County Council, this money would be due to the Council. The bond was signed by the two Swindalls and the assistant general manager of the bank.

The first page of the bond between T. Swindall and Sons and the National Provincial Bank

The second page of the bond showing the signatures of the parties