Building record 3884/64/1 - R. Griggs & Co. Limited, Mill Road/Melton Road

Formerly Harry Wells Chapman, E.G. Bek, Witney & Westley. The site of a shoe factory that is located on Mill Road. This compact factory of three storeys over a basement, occupies a corner site on the south side of Mill Road and the east side of Melton Road. It was probably built shortly before 1899 as the Ordnance Survey map of that date shows it isolated from other buildings.

{1} 'R Griggs and Co Limited Footwear Manufacturers', Melton Road / Mill Road. Three storey industrial building on corner of Melton Road and Mill Road. Now out of use and up for re-development. Building is shown on maps of 1900 and 1926 but not identified as shoe factory. Film 10, photo 25.

{2} Harry Wells Chapman, a cardboard box manufacturer, is recorded as being in the factory in 1910. It is suggested that the next occupant of the factory was EG Bek, a manufacturing Jeweller. The Pictorial Trade record - Wellingborough, published in December 1912 states: "the large building at the corner of Mill Road and Melton Road has doubtless often at times been assumed by strangers to be a shoe or a boot factory. In reality, a branch of the great German firm of Herr Bek of Pforzheim, near Baden- Baden". The article continues by stating that the company, " here at Wellingborough the principal manufacture carried on is that of chains and chain purses".
From the period 1920-1930 there is no sustainable evidence at this time for the occupancy of 180 Mill Road. In 1931, Kelly's shows the company of Witney and Westley Ltd utilising the building. Witney and Westley were boot and shoe manufacturers who had their main premises at Burton latimer. Oral tradition of the area suggests that Witney and Westley occupied the Mill Road building until the early 1980's. After going into receivership in 1982, Griggs took over the running of the factory. During the latter part of the 20th century the Griggs empire grew due to the introduction of the "Doc" Marten air wear product and as a result many buildings were taken on for the manufacturer and distribution. Local oral tradition has placed part of the Griggs Company at 180 Mill Road. This company moved out of Mill Road in the latter part of the 20th century and the Gandolfi Compant moved in. They vacated this site in 2002.

180 Mill Road is a small four-storey factory and dates to c. 1898. this single range building is on a north south alignment, the main façade, the west elevation, fronts onto Melton Road.
The north and west elevations are constructed of even toned red brick, laid in a "Dutch" bond style. The south and east elevations are of red, cream and terracotta coloured bricks also laid in a "Dutch" bond, giving a mottle band effect. The gabled roof has a covering that consists of plain red tiles. [more detail in report]

<1> Ballinger J., 1999, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Wellingborough (Industrial), (checked) (Digital archive). SNN100290.

<2> Looker J., 2004, Archaeological Buildings Survey: Gandolfi Boot Factory, 180 Mill Road, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, (checked) (Report). SNN104818.

<3> Looker J., 2004, Archive Report Form, (unchecked) (SMR Report Form). SNN105016.

<4> Looker J., 2004, Archaeological Building Survey, Supplementary Report: The Gandolfi Boot and Shoe Factory, (unchecked) (Supplement). SNN105017.

<5> ENGLISH HERITAGE, 2000, Northamptonshire Boot and Shoe Survey, Wellingborough Site 19 (Catalogue). SNN105075.

<6> Looker J., 2004, The Gandolfi Boot and Shoe Factory, Wellingborough (Photographs). SNN107007.

<7> Historic England, Undated, R Griggs and Co Limited Mill Road Factory, Wellingborough, BF103766 (Archive). SNN113931.

Record last edited

Oct 4 2022 4:52PM