Monument record 7203/33 - Allebone & Sons Ltd shoe factory (GBD Reproduction Furniture, Prestige Footwear)

Allebone & Sons opened a small single-storey factory on the north side of Oakley Street circa 1915. The factory is exceptionally plain, consisting of a screen wall concealing north-lit ranges. The original building, corresponding to the second to fourth bays from the east on the present Oakley Road frontage, was of three bays of pier-and-panel walling. Two moulded concrete strings create a simple entablature topped by ball finials at each pier. An office entrance survives in the central bay where it was associated with a surviving single light to the left, and a rectangular bay window to the right. In the west bay of the original factory the works entrance at the west end, a three-light transomed window and a single light are all original. The north-lit roofs have steel trusses.The factory was considerably extended to the west circa 1930 in the same style and in the 1950s it was extended to Washbrook Road.

{1} Boot and Shoe Factory, Oakley Road. The structure shown on early OS maps, but has been considerably extended. The building is very functional in appearance with ball finials on the roof providing the only form of decoration. It is now in use as a furniture factory. Originally owned by Allebone and Sons Ltd. Film 17, photo 9,10.

{2} Allebone & Sons opened a small single-storey factory on the north side of Oakley Street circa 1915. The factory is exceptionally plain, consisting of a screen wall concealing north-lit ranges. The original building, corresponding to the second to fourth bays from the east on the present Oakley Road frontage, was of three bays of pier-and-panel walling. Two moulded concrete strings create a simple entablature topped by ball finials at each pier. An office entrance survives in the central bay where it was associated with a surviving single light to the left, and a rectangular bay window to the right. In the west bay of the original factory the works entrance at the west end, a three-light transomed window and a single light are all original. The north-lit roofs have steel trusses.

The factory was considerably extended to the west circa 1930 in the same style and in the 1950s it was extended to Washbrook Road.

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

<2> ENGLISH HERITAGE, 2000, Northamptonshire Boot and Shoe Survey, Site 10 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN105075.

<3> Historic England, Undated, GBD Reproduction Furniture Ltd (formerly Allebone and Sons Ltd), Oakley Road, Rushden, BF103664 (Archive). SNN114076.

Record last edited

Sep 13 2022 3:06PM