Rushden Research Group: F Ward & Co.

Research by J-P Carr and Kay Collins, 2026

F Ward & Co.

1 Duck Street - Leather Dressers

No 1 Duck Street faced up Church Street.

Courtesy of Clive Wood

Francis Onyons Ward was born on 24th. February 1878 at Brierly Hill, Staffordshire. In 1891 Francis is working as a bootmaker, living with parents, Joseph and Mary, and three sisters and one brother. His father was a commercial traveller.

In 1906 Francis married Laura Belinda Laws, of Pensnett, and in 1908 a daughter Vera Edith was born at Dudley.

Soon after, they left Brierly Hill and in 1911 they had moved to Camberwell New Road, London S.E., where they were lodging with Thomas Browton, a solicitor’s clerk, and his family. Francis is working as an examiner in the leather trade, and Vera Edith has stayed with her grandparents.

Two years later Francis and Laura are in Mitcham, SRY, where twins Francis Donald and Joyce Mary were born.

In 1921 Francis Ward is at the National Hotel, Upper Bedford Place, St Giles in the Fields & St George Bloomsbury, London, as a "visitor, occupation boot manufacturer, place of work Rushden". Laura and the children are staying with a relative.

At Rushden the factory was at 1 Duck Street, and the family lived in Wellingborough Road in 1924, when Francis was granted a Patent.

Rushden Echo, February 15^th 1924, transcribed by Kay Collins

A Patent has been granted to Mr F Ward, of Wellingborough-road, Rushden, for an invention of a boot or shoe heel, which comprises a thin metal shell with a filling of wood, wood pulp, leather board, etc., the upper edges of the shell and filling being flush against the heel seat of the shoe.

The "FITALL" LEATHER FILLER
(Prov. Patent)

THIS Filler is manufactured under a special process from Split Hides. The lines of the last are brought out more accurately than is possible with fibre.
It has more elasticity and yet is tougher and will stand more rough usage.

The Filler can be made to customers' own models, and covered with any desired material :— Stockinette, Celluloid, or Enamelled in various colours.

Some of the leading firms in the trade are using them and are highly satisfied.

We are also Manufacturers of Skiver and Split Socks at keenest prices.

1927 advertising Card for Fitall filler

In 1934 they also took over a factory at Irchester that had been vacated by Denton Brothers Shoes (founded in a factory in Irchester in 1919 – having taken over a factory built originally by their grandfather Benjamin Denton) D B Shoes moved to Rectory Road in 1934. When the company had ceased operation there in 1938 and the building was taken over by an evacuated factory, Lancashire Dynamo and Crypto Co Ltd, during WWII.

Rushden Echo and Argus, 26th October 1934, transcribed by Kay Collins

Cut Fingers—Mr. Albert Line of "Rodney Stoke," Newton-road, has been admitted to the Northampton General Hospital with cut fingers. While working at Mr. F. Ward's factory in Duck-street he caught his fingers in a "guillotine."

The company was declared bankrupt in 1938, when they had three premises at 1 Duck Street, in Westfield Terrace at Higham, and at High Street, Irchester. The Northampton Mercury reported on 19th August 1938 that a slump in the market was partly to blame for the failure, and they were deficient by £7,768 1s, 11d.

In 1939 the family were living at 1 Duck Street, Francis senior is a salesman, Edith is a clerk in the leather trade, and Joyce is a typist at a boot works, and Francis junior is a welt & heel manufacturer.

F Ward & Co. is listed in Kelly's Leather Trades directory as a Leather Dresser at 1 Duck Street, from 1924 until 1940.

Laura died in March 1844, and Francis died in May 1957. They are buried in Rushden Cemetery:

Graves F709/10:
In ever present memory of a loving wife & mother Laura Belinda WARD who died 18th March 1944 aged 65 years. To live in the hearts of those we love is not to die. And our beloved father Francis WARD who died 21st May 1957 aged 79 years. Re-united.

(The burial index also records that their daughter Edith BELOE’s ashes were interned in her father’s grave on 11^th May 1981. She had died aged 73.)

Notes from further research:

Edith Ward later married a Harry Barrington Beloe (1910-1957) in 1943, in Northwood, Greater London, where she died. Her ashes were buried in her father's grave in 1981.

1950s Advert

Francis Donald Ward married firstly 1943 a Beryl Lilian Hutchinson (born 1922 Croydon) but they divorced. He married again in 1952 to Madge Edith Lane (born Wellingborough 1923 – died Bedford 2004) and they had two children.

Joyce Ward was married in 1939 to Henry John Davies Hamp (born 1915 Hardingstone – died 1967 Buckinghamshire) and they had two children.

Francis Donald Ward:

Francis junior carried on part of the business as a welt and heel manufacturer. Now trading as F D Ward's - he continued at Westfield Avenue, Higham Ferrers.

He invented "Festick-on" soles and "Rimforts" for heels in the 1950s. Repairers in other counties were also advertising that they were using these and they could "extend the life of shoes fitting Rimforts supplied by F D Wards."

see Grace's Guide at gracesguide.co.uk

Index of all Shoe Companies and Allied Trades