Building record 7203/139/1 - Rushden Windmill Club (formerly Rushden Heel Company Ltd)

The Rushden Windmill Club was built in 1898 in the expanding western suburb of Rushden alongside the Wellingborough Road. The two-storey building faces Windmill Road on the west and has an L-shaped plan. The single-storey range, which extends to Glassbrook Road at its south end, probably formed a reading or lecture room. The roof retains the original exposed timber trusses with moulded king and queen posts. The Rushden Heel Company, formerly of Park Road, acquired the Windmill Club before 1937 and continues (1999) to operate there. Manufacturing is concentrated in the single-storey range while the two-storey building appears to be used mainly as offices. The Club relocated to larger premises on Glassbrook Road.

{1} Rushden Windmill Club, Windmill Road. Erected in 1896 for 600 members. Building shown on map of 1926 as 'Club' also has a plaque on the wall with a picture of a windmill and "AD 98". There is a gold sign on the door 'The Rushden Heel Co Limited Registered Office'. Film 13, photo 15.

{2} 1898 Rushden Windmill Club built (datestone)
1899 'Windmill Club' (OS 1:2500, 40.9)
1906 Rushden Windmill Club and Institute (Kelly's)
1923 'Club' unchanged (OS 1:2500)
1937 Rushden Heel Co, Windmill Rd
1969 Rushden Heel Co Ltd
1999 Rushden Heel Co

The Rushden Windmill Club was built in 1898. The two-storey building faces Windmill Road on the west and has an L-shaped plan. The west front consists of an entrance bay to the south and a canted bay to the north, the latter beneath a gable, the former having a small gablet. Both bays are richly treated with limestone ashlar. The entrance has a pedimented doorway beneath a plaque which has a windmill between the characters 'AD 98'. The single storey range, which extends to Glassbrook Road at its south end, is of brick with limestone sills, and probably formed a reading or lecture room. The roof retains the original exposed timber trusses with moulded king and queen posts, but has been relaid with concrete tiles.

The Rushden Heel Co, formerly of Park Road, acquired the Windmill Club before 1937 and continues to operate there. Manufacturing is concentrated in the single storey range while the two storey building appears to be used mainly for offices. The Club relocated to larger premises on Glassbrook Road.

{4} A level II building recording survey was undertaken prior to partial demolition and development of the site. Much of the original detail had been lost by the time of the survey.

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

<2> ENGLISH HERITAGE, 2000, Northamptonshire Boot and Shoe Survey, Site 9 (checked) (Catalogue). SNN105075.

<3> Historic England, Undated, Rushden Heel Company Ltd, Windmill Road, Rushden, BF103653 (Archive). SNN114075.

<4> Wilson, L, 2023, Historic building recording at the Former Windmill Club, Windmill Road, Rushden, August 2023 (Report). SNN115401.

Record last edited

Feb 17 2025 7:19PM