Building record 7203/60/1 - 27 Victoria Road

A three storey shoe factory that occupies a tapering corner plot, originated in the early 1890s, as a four by four bay building fronting Victoria Road to the south and gabled to Rectory Road on the east. The original factory retains its slate roof, has segmental headed windows with blue brick sills and timber frames of three equal lights. The eaves and verges have cogged decoration and there is a small stack on the east gable. The Victoria Road elevation is distinguished by more even textured brick and by polychrome details such as windows, arches and eaves. The original entrance was at the west end of the south front. At the opposite end of this elevation there was a first floor taking in doorway, now blocked but with scarring from a former crane. A ground floor entrance directly below, may have been inserted at a later date. Before 1899 the factory was extended northwards and roughly doubled in size. The addition, which is also gabled to Rectory Road, can be distinguished by a change in brick type, by the asymmetry of the roof valley between the two phases and by the closer fenestration of the Rectory Road elevation. Owing to the tapering plot, the addition is narrower at its north end, where it presents just three bays, the western bay incorporating taking-in doorways on the first and second floors. A crane remains in situ.

{1} Factory, Rectory Road. Factory on Rectory Road. Still in use by 'Mainstream Steam', but not fully utilised. Film 6 photo 18,19, 20.

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

<2> ENGLISH HERITAGE, 2000, Northamptonshire Boot and Shoe Survey, Site 28 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN105075.

<3> Historic England, Undated, 27 Victoria Road, Rushden, BF103676 (Archive). SNN113907.

Record last edited

Aug 24 2022 4:44PM