Building record 7203/57/1 - The Old Auction Room, 8 West Street

Possible Boot & Shoe Factory/Curriery/Grindery (Brice & Co., ?C.J. Desborough & Co.). A small three-storied shoe factory or curriers that was built circa 1890, was established in the plot extending behind 125 High Street, taking advantage of a frontage onto the short cul-de-sac know by the 1890s as West Street. Certain features - the wide taking in doorways and the taller than normal windows in the east gable - might suggest a curriers rather than a shoe factory, and this seems to be confirmed by the only leather trades directory references to West Street.The building has a five-bay south front to West Street and a three-bay east gable. It is plainly built of brick with blue brick sills and segmental heads to the windows; the roof has been re -laid with concrete tiles. On the front elevation the eastern- most bay is occupied by a wide entrance beneath taking-in doorways on the first and second floors. A crane remains in situ.

{1} Industrial building on West Street. Has sign on the frontage 'Old Auction Room', but would appear to have been a factory or warehouse prior to this. Film 2 photo 5.

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

<2> ENGLISH HERITAGE, 2000, Northamptonshire Boot and Shoe Survey, Site 58 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN105075.

<3> Historic England, The Old Auction Room, West Street, Rushden, BF103824 (Archive). SNN115425.

<4> ENGLISH HERITAGE, 2000, Northamptonshire Boot and Shoe Survey, EHC01/044 (Archive). SNN113193.

Record last edited

Sep 6 2023 11:30AM