Monument record 7198/66 - Carrington Works (Mobbs & Lewis), Jeffery & Timson shoe factory, Albert Iron Works (demolished)

The site was developed before 1874 as the Albert Iron Works of G. Lewis & Son. The Carrington Works was subsequently built as a last manufacturer. The 1963 last and shoe machinery engineering factory of Mobbs Miller completely replaced the Albert Iron Works and the Carrington Works as built in 1885 and rebuilt after 1921.

George Lewis, Engineering Firm, Queen Street
Established by 1870. Specialised in agricultural implements. Very large proportion of the building has been demolished and a modern, large factory stands on the site now. Small part of the building survives as a gym. (1)

Carrington works (Iron), Carrington Street
The majority of structures for Carrington Iron Works gone - replaced by modern housing and large, new industrial buildings. There is possibly one remaining building on the corner of Carrington Street which is associated with the works.This has a stepped, cut away frontage. Now in use by IST Machinery Limited Independant Shoe Machine Traders. On the opposite side of the road there are three remaining north light sheds which may also relate to the works. Film 8, photo 16,17. (1)

Jeffrey and Timpson Boot and Shoe manufacturers, Carrington Street
Large number of industrial buildings shown on Carrington Street - one of these may have been a boot and shoe manufactury as opposed to being associated with the main industrial concern in the area - Carrington Works (Iron). There is one surviving building on the corner of Carrington street - has a stepped cut away fronatge and is now in use by IST Machinery Limited Independant. (1)


{2} The firm has its origins in the Albert Iron Works of G. Lewis & Son. This was built before 1874 on the north side of Queen Street, and specialised in agricultural implements. After Alfred Lewis (d.1926) developed the ‘Easy-Exit’ iron last he formed a partnership with Harry Mobbs, a shoemaker, to manufacture it. The Carrington Works was built, probably in 1885 or shortly thereafter, for this purpose.
The factory had a long two-storeyed frontage to Carrington Street on the north, newly created by extending eastwards the cul-de-sac previously known as Alma Place, from which Lewis & Son already enjoyed rear access to the Albert Works. Further buildings were constructed on the north side of Carrington Street before 1924 (OS), possibly in the Edwardian period, when the company history states that the foundry was relocated to nearby premises, and the shoe factory of Jeffery & Timson, adjoining the last works, was acquired (Sexton, 2). Following a serious fire in 1921 the factory on the south side was comprehensively rebuilt, only to be replaced by a new building in 1963. In the following year Mobbs and Lewis merged with its main rival in last-making, O.A. Miller Ltd of Northampton, to become Mobbs and Miller Ltd.
The 1963 factory completely replaced the Albert Iron Works and the Carrington Works as built in 1885 and rebuilt after 1921. It consists of a two-storeyed office block, faced in brick, with its main elevation on Carrington street. At the rear of this block is the factory floor: a single-storeyed structure with a light steel frame, ribbon-glazed walls and lanterns set in a flat roof. On the Queen Street side of the factory a small two-storey brick-built block supports the feed hoppers for the plastic granules used to mould the lasts. Single-storeyed brick-built blocks at either end of this elevation appear to have accommodated services such as the heating plant, canteen and washrooms.
Adjoining the 1963 last works to the east is a two-storeyed building, now Carrington Cars. This is probably the former shoe factory of Jeffrey & Timson, built in Carrington Street shortly before 1890.

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

<2> ENGLISH HERITAGE, 2000, Northamptonshire Boot and Shoe Survey, Ket52 (Catalogue). SNN105075.

<3> Historic England, Carrington Works (Mobbs Miller Ltd), Carrington Street, Kettering, BF103571 (Archive). SNN114924.

Record last edited

Mar 28 2023 11:03AM