Building record 7203/93/1 - Knight & Laurence Shoe Factory

A large shoe factory that was established on the north side of Manton Road in 1893 when W.C Knight built a three storey factory on the south-east corner of the present site, at right angles to the road. This building survives minus its original hipped roof and second floor, as a two storey flat-roofed building. It is constructed in pinkish brick but much of the external detail is now obscured by render. In the early twentieth century three single-storeyed north-lit ranges were added at the rear of the site. Further buildings to the south of these have been demolished.

{1} Industrial building, Manton Road. 'White and Co (Earls Barton) Ltd'. Presumably a shoe factory - now 'to let'. Structure much altered on the exterior. Film 12, photo 14.


{2} This large factory was established on the north side of Manton Road in 1893, when W.C. Knight built a three-storeyed factory on the south-east corner of the present site, at rightangles to the road. This building survives, minus its original hipped roof and second floor, as a two-storeyed flat-roofed building. Another pre-1899 building may be represented by a gabled, asbestos-roofed single-storeyed building to the rear of the site. Abutting this to the south are three single-storeyed north-lit ranges, six bays wide from east to west, dating from the early 20th century (before 1916). They have cast-iron window frames. Two single-storeyed gabled buildings to the south of these, and of a similar date, have been demolished.

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

<2> ENGLISH HERITAGE, 2000, Northamptonshire Boot and Shoe Survey, Site 46 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN105075.

<3> Morrison K.A.; Bond A., 2004, Built To Last? The Buildings of The Northamptonshire Boot and Shoe Industry (Book). SNN104903.

<4> Historic England, Undated, 6 Manton Road, Rushden, BF103758 (Archive). SNN114151.

Record last edited

Sep 29 2022 3:18PM