Building record 7203/21/1 - Boot & Shoe Factory, Park Road

(?Fred Knight Ltd., K.E.M. Underwood, Central Electric Co. Ltd.) A large shoe factory, dated 1889, occupied what appears formerly to have been the grounds of a house on the west side of Park Road. As first built it was L-shaped on plan, with a four-bay east front to Park Road, a return elevation of ten bays to the south, and a hipped south-east corner. It consists of three storeys over a basement and is constructed in orange brick with a mixture of red and blue brick and limestone dressings. It employs an unusual form of pier and panel walling , the piers being omitted from some corners, and elsewhere shouldering back to the wall plane a little below the stepped eaves. The north gable incorporates a blind keyed oculus at attic level, bearing the inscribed date '1889'.

{1} Park Road, Knights Factory. From the rear Film 5, photo 18. Has a large house located behind it (the Old Rectory on Little Street). Originally for owner of factory? Film 5, photo 19
Boot and shoe factory on Park Road. Currently in use by Central Electric Company (Rushden) Ltd. Registered Office. The building is a long structure of three storeys and a basement. Film 11, photo 24-25.

{2} It appears that the factory had continual occupancy from 1895/6 to 2002. The construction of factory may have coincided with the expansion of the Boot and Shoe industry in Rushden.

{4} The shoe factory was demolished by 2003.

Historic England, Undated, Former boot and shoe factory, Park Road, Rushden, BF103816 (Archive). SNN114147.

<1> Ballinger J., 1999, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Industrial Period, (unchecked) (Digital archive). SNN4.

<2> Looker, J., 2003, Central Electric Company, (Rushden) Ltd. 60 Park Road Rushden: Archaeological Building Survey, (checked) (Report). SNN103336.

<3> ENGLISH HERITAGE, 2000, Northamptonshire Boot and Shoe Survey, Site 50 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN105075.

<4> Vertical Aerial Photograph, EARTH.GOOGLE.COM DEC-2003 ACCESSED 07-FEB-2019 (Aerial Photograph(s)). SNN112695.

Record last edited

Sep 29 2022 2:41PM