Monument record 7196/3 - Charles Parker and Sons, later Sudborough & Son

{1} Boot and Shoe Factory, Commercial Street
Business began in 1874 with Charles Parker boot and shoe manufacturers and was extended in 1886 and 1892. Later taken over by Walker, Dempson and Stevens Ltd and the A Sudborough and Son (1913-46), A Norman and Sons as 'Borough Shoes' and was finally taken over by Lakes Bros Ltd in 1987. Large factory on Commercial Street - shown on maps of both 1900 and 1926 - with considerable physical development between these two dates. The building has a primarily functional appearance, but has a possible office block with slightly more detailing in the centre of the building - alternatively may be core of original factory. The structure is now in partial usage by 'Athol Life care Resource Centre'.Film 5, photo 18-21. (1)

{2} The first factory on the site was the early factory for Charles Parker and consisted of two separate factory buildings, shown on the 1900 OS map. It was begun in 1874 and extended in 1886 and again in 1892. There was a major fire at Parkers in 1905, and later the building was taken over by Walker, Dempron and Stevens Ltd. There is some evidence that Parkers continued ownership of the premises until bought by Alfred Sudborough in 1913 when they moved to new premises in Midland Road.
The factory as it stands exhibits at least three phases ofr development. The earliest appears to be the approximately square building immediately behind the houses on the Wellingborough Road frontage ie at the bottom end of the site. This is probably the three-storey building originally built for Charles Parkers'. This is built in a hard red brick off a blue engineering brick base, taking up the sharp slope of the site to provide a level floor. This is capped with chamfered brick courses.
The factory buildings were bought and operated by Alfred Sudborough & Son Ltd, which was first established in 1913. His son joined the firm as a partner after returning from service in the great war. A thrid partner was Mr Clifton.
The firm specialised in medium quality footware, in particular Goodyear welted shoes, marketed under the trade names 'Supreme Shoes', 'Service Shoes', 'High Flyers' and later 'Borough Brand'. They appear in the trade lists as Boot Manufacturers. During WW1 they supplied footware to the military of the British, Russian, Cossack and Italian armies. Sudboroughs acquired a longer established firm in Commercial Road and, as 'Borough Shoes' continued in business until the building was largely destroyed by fire in 1949.

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

<2> Woodfield, P., 2003, The Factory of Sudborough & Son Ltd, Commercial Street, Higham Ferrers, (unchecked) (Report). SNN103931.

Record last edited

Aug 3 2016 1:56PM