Building record 1933/27/1 - Burton Leather Works/Loake Shoemakers (Former Rockleigh Shoe Co.)

Burton Leather Works is thought to have been built as a wool-stapling factory in around 1850 by Francis Sharp. It became John Thomas Hawthorne's shoe manufactory in about 1895. On Ordnance Survey maps of 1886 and 1900 (1:2500) the site appears as outbuildings to Obelisk House. Whilst on a 1926 (1:2500) Ordnance Survey map, the buildings are entitled 'Boot and Shoe Factory'. The buildings were recorded by English Heritage survey staff in May 2000 and comprised of one three-storey building and another single-storey building just off Burton Road. The three storey building was of three by two bays, built of red brick with a hipped Welsh slate roof. The lower floors had windows with segmental heads and cast-iron frames whilst the upper floors were rendered with large windows including 20th century fenestration. The single storey building was built of coursed limestone rubble with ashlar dressings. It consisted of four north-lit ranges with shaped gables to Burton Road.

{1} Single storey shoe factory with north roof lights and stone frontage with curved gables. Used by the Rockleigh Shoe Co, later part of Loakes Shoes, until late 1990s.

{2} The Burton Leather Works stands on the east side of Burton Road, with a site entrance along the northern perimeter and a yard to the rear (east). There are two principal elements to this factory, one in brick and one in limestone; map evidence suggests that they are contemporary, or nearly so, though the three-storey brick building may be thought a little earlier than the north-lit sheds. The brick building is set back from the road. It consists of three by two bays, beneath a hipped roof of Welsh slate. The lower floors have windows with segmental heads and cast-iron frames. The upper storey, which may be a later addition, is rendered and has very large windows with 20th-century fenestration. The single-storey stone building occupies the space between the brick building and Burton Road, and extends further south. It consists of four north-lit ranges with shaped gables to Burton Road. The walls are of coursed limestone rubble with ashlar dressings. The louvred ventilators in the gables are original, and have ashlar quoins. On the north return a doorway and flanking windows are also original. All have brick jambs while the doorway has a keyed limestone head and the windows have blue brick sills. The fenestration of the west front is secondary, and has concrete lintels and sills.
History:
1884 Obelisk House shown with outbuildings on site of works (OS 1:2500, XXXII.16)
1896 ? Baker & Dodge, leather dressers (LT)
1899 Present works shown in place of outbuildings (OS 1:2500)
1906 ? Baker, Son & Dodge, curriers (Kelly’s)
1922 William James Ward, curriers & leather dressers, Burton leather works (LT)
1924 ‘Boot & Shoe Factory’; slightly extended (OS 1:2500)
1929 C E & H B Groome, curriers, leather dressers & merchants, Burton works (LT)
1937 As 1929 (LT)
2000 For sale (sign).

{3} Boot and Shoe factory shown on Ordnance Survey map of 1926 in close proximity to Obelisk House. Frontage of stone with decorative detail. Has four lights, but not triangular; there is a three storey brick building to the rear of the structure. Currently in use by 'Loake Shoe makers' Film 1, photo 19,20.

{4} This leather works probably dates from circa 1895. It consists of a three-storey, three-bay range and four single-storey north-lit bays with shaped gables.

{5} This factory was built as a wool-stapling factory about 1845 by Francis Sharp. It became J T Hawthornes shoe factory about 1895.

{4, 5} Burton Leather Works is thought to have been built as a wool-stapling factory in around 1845 by Francis Sharp. It may have become J T Hawthornes shoe factory in about 1895. On Ordnance Survey maps of 1886 and 1900 (1:2500) the site appears as outbuildings to Obelisk House. Whilst on a 1926 (1:2500) Ordnance Survey map the buildings are entitled 'Boot and Shoe Factory'. The buildings were recorded by English Heritage survey staff in May 2000 and comprised of one three-storey building and another single-storey building just off Burton Road. The three storey building was of three by two bays, built of red brick with a hipped Welsh slate roof. The lower floors had windows with segmental heads and cast-iron frames whilst the upper floors were rendered with large windows including 20th century fenestration. The single storey building was built of coursed limestone rubble with ashlar dressings. It consisted of four north-lit ranges with shaped gables to Burton Road.

{4} The buildings were up for sale in 2000.

{6} Obelisk House was built in about 1938. Francis Sharp a wool-stapler bought the house and built a factory (the Burton Leather works) behind it in around 1850. In 1894 John Thomas Hawthorne purchased the house and factory, the latter of which was used for shoe manufacturing. He remained there until his death in 1954. In around 1976, Obelisk House was demolished and replaced by Alington Close.

Historic England, Undated, Former Burton Leather Works, Burton Road, Finedon, BF103638 (Archive). SNN115852.

<1> Northamptonshire Industrial Archaeology Group, 2001, A Guide To The Industrial Heritage Of Northamptonshire, (checked) (Gazetteer). SNN104759.

<2> ENGLISH HERITAGE, 2000, Northamptonshire Boot and Shoe Survey, Finedon site 4 (checked) (Catalogue). SNN105075.

<3> Ballinger J., 1999, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Industrial Period, (checked) (Digital archive). SNN4.

<4> Historic England, Unknown, Oral information, correspondence (not archived) or staff comments, NMR Archives, Buildings File: BF103638 (Oral Report). SNN111577.

<5> Historic England, Unknown, Oral information, correspondence (not archived) or staff comments, PastScape Feedback 28-MAR-2008 (Oral Report). SNN111577.

<6> Bailey J., 2004, Look at Finedon, See photograph 283 and 288. (Book). SNN109347.

Record last edited

Jan 11 2024 9:13AM