Building record 1933/3/1 - Tower Works

This is a three-storey shoe factory of circa 1890. Originally of eight bays, it was extended by three bays at an early date.

{1} Tower Works Boot and Shoe, Tenter Street. The Tower Works building was shown on Ordnance Survey map of 1926, has now been converted to 'Berry Green Court' flats. Film 2, photo 1,2.

{2} History:
1884 Not shown (OS 1:2500, XXXII.16)
1896 Not listed under Tenter Lane (LT)
1899 Factory shown (OS 1:2500)
1906 Frederick Minney, boot mfr (Kelly’s)
1916 A W Minney & Son engaged in government contracts (SLN)
1922 Arthur W Minney & Son, boot & shoe mfr, Tenter Lane (LT)
1924 ‘Tower Works (Boot & Shoe)’ (OS 1:2500)
1929 As 1922, but also T H Minney Ltd, boot & shoe mfr (LT)
1967 T H Minney, boot & shoe mfr (ISE)
2000 Berry Green Court (flats)Earliest phase c.1896-9. The Tower Works (so-named in 1924, but liable to confusion with the Tower Works on Wellingborough Road) is a three-storey factory originally of eight bays, occupying the corner of Tenter Lane and St Mary’s Avenue. It is built of orange brick on a blue brick base, and has blue brick sills to the segmental-headed windows. The eaves and verges have a simple stepped treatment. The roof has been re-laid with concrete tiles. The west gable, facing Tenter Lane, was much altered in the recent domestic conversion, but was originally three bays wide. The central bay is offset to allow for a wider taking-in bay at the south end of the gable, now concealed by a modern oriel and boarding.
The original factory was extended eastwards by three bays at an early date and in a matching style, though in brick of slightly different colour. Brick closers mark the original end of the factory. The extension has a four-bay east gable, now partially obscured by a domestic lean-to addition. The original taking-in bay appears to have been replaced by an internal hoist in the south-west corner. This rises above the eaves and may once have risen further.
The 1899 OS map shows a small lean-to attached to the east end of the factory, and a detached building a little further east. By 1924 the lean-to had been replaced by a structure linking the two buildings, and two further buildings had been erected in an enlarged yard to the south. All these buildings have been demolished.
The Tower Works seems to have belonged to the firm of A.W. (later T.H.) Minney throughout its working life. In 1916 ‘practically the whole output’ was devoted to government contracts for the military; previously the firm had produced ‘Men’s and Youths’ Boots, chiefly in Chrome and Semi-chrome Box’. ‘Dull Chrome Derbys of the medium heavy type’ were a speciality (SLN, cv).

Historic England, Undated, Berry Green Court (formerly Tower Works), Tenter Lane, Finedon, BF103635 (Archive). SNN115851.

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

<2> ENGLISH HERITAGE, 2000, Northamptonshire Boot and Shoe Survey, Finedon site 1 (checked) (Catalogue). SNN105075.

Record last edited

Jan 11 2024 8:55AM