Click here to return to the main site entry page
Click here to return to the previous page

Smith & Co. and H & J Smith
surgical boot manufacturers

Herbert Charles Cope Smith, a boot finisher from Ringstead, and his wife Eliza Ellen.

They came to Rushden after their marriage, and here they had Ellen Jane (1888), William Ewart (1890), Ernest George (1891), Bertha (1894), Frank (1895), Percy Jack (1901), Harold (1904), and Lily in 1906.

The family lived at 133 Cromwell Road.

By 1921 only the four youngest were still at home, and all worked in shoe making. Herbert was employing son Frank and they were working together at home, trading as Smith & Co.

Jack was working at Advance Boot Company in Allen Road, Harold worked at the CWS factory, and Lily worked in the closing department of Advance Boot Company in High Street.

H & J Smith
Brothers Harold and Jack Smith made surgical boots from their workshop in the old stable block behind the Queen Victoria Hotel.
postcard
Unused Postcard - nothing more is known of the firm

Their address was 11 North Street, Rushden.

Mr. J. Smith applied for planning permission to erect a greenhouse there in December 1952.

Harold Smith was born 23rd March 1904, and married Grace E Wiggin (born 2nd February 1905) in1929. They lived at 5 Woburn Place in 1939.

Percy Jack Smith was born 14th February 1901, and worked in the shoe trade, and by 1939 he was a working foreman and a welt sewer.

He married Beatrice Nellie Adams (born on 28th July 1902) in the autumn of 1929, and they lived at 11 North Street. Their son Robert was born on 19th January 1930.

Percy Jack died in March 1977 and Beatrice died the following year. They are buried in Rushden Cemetery Grave N4:

In loving memory of Percy Jack SMITH called to rest 9th March 1977 aged 76 years and of his dear wife Beatrice Nellie who joined him in peace on 12th January 1978 aged 75 years.


Index of all Shoe Companies and Allied Trades


Click here to return to the main index of features
Click here to return to the Shoe Trade index
Click here to e-mail us