Building record 1160/478/1 - No.369 Wellingborough Road (Front Building of Manfield Shoe Factory)

Shoe factory dated 1890 and designed by Charles Dorman. Jacobean style in stone dressed red brick under Westmorland slate roof with stone coped gables, three with stone finials to projecting two storey centre, three each to recessed single storey wings. Stone mullioned and transomed casement windows, 11 to centre seven to each wing. Central entrance up stone steps has recessed elliptically arched porch under oriel window. Single storey north-lit sheds to rear have been demolished.

{1} 1890 by Charles Dorman. One of the first factories in England to be arranged on 1 floor. Jacobean style in stone dressed red brick under Westmoreland slated roof with stone coped gables, 3 with stone finials to projecting 2 storey centre, 3 each to recessed single storey wings. Stone mullioned and transomed casement windows, 11 to centre, 7 to each wing. Central entrance up stone steps has recessed elliptically arched porch under oriel bay window.

{3} Established in 1892, the Manfield's shoe factory was revolutionary in design in that all the processes were accomodated on one level behind a 400ft-long street frontage. The exterior of the structure has the appearance of a public building but fronts the north-light sheds behind.

{4} Built in 1892. Sometimes referred to as the Monks Park Factory.


{7} Three photos dated 1990;

{8} Manfield and Sons was founded in 1819 and occupied a factory in Campbell Square from 1857 (demolished in 1984). This factory was constructed in 1892. It was the first single-storey factory in the country and covered four acres. The two-storey frontage was the office block and is the only remaining element of the factory. In 1957, Manfield became part of the British Shoe Corporation, in turn taken over by Burlington International. Closed in 1992.

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 14/537 (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<2> 1976, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), H14 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN1000.

<3> Palmer M; Neaverson P., 1992, Industrial Landscapes of the East Midlands, p.197 (checked) (Book). SNN3691.

<4> ENGLISH HERITAGE, 2000, Northamptonshire Boot and Shoe Survey, Site 107 (Catalogue). SNN105075.

<5> Historic England, Undated, Burlington House (formerly Manfield Shoe Factory), 369 Wellingborough Road, Northampton, BF103531 (Archive). SNN113834.

<6> Bailey, B, Pevsner, N, and Cherry, B, 2013, The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p. 475 (Book). SNN111989.

<7> Photographs of buildings in Northampton (Photographs). SNN114989.

<8> Perkins, P, Whittaker, R and Denton, A, 2022, A Guide to the Industrial Heritage of Northamptonshire, p. 65/ Site 285 (Book). SNN113793.

Record last edited

Jan 23 2025 1:06PM