Monument record 1624/20 - Express Works (John Shortland Wearra Shoe Company)

This boot and shoe factory of 1899 has its front range surviving but the extensive range of north lit sheds behind have all been rebuilt. The front range has offices on one side of the entrance and originally had a taking in door on the other. Part of the original water tower survives behind this range. The factory underwent extensive rebuilding in c.1937 and had a number of additions in the 1960s.

{1} John Shortland Factory. John Shortland moved to Irthlingborough in 1875. He established the 'Express' shoe works in Church Street after separating from his father and brother in 1899. The main factory building of 1899 was extended in 1904. The Wearra brand was used in 1906. In 1919 John Shortland Ltd became an incorporated company (on 15th November). In 1929 it took over the original Tower Works for closing and rough stuff departments. John Shortland Wearra Shoe Company prospered during the 1930's and 1940's, the firm took over one side of Church Street with a vast building project for the 1937 Express Works. Several cottages were demolished to make way for this scheme.
The firm took over one side of Church Street with a vast building project of the 1937 Express Works, when several cottages were demolished to make way for this scheme.

{2} John Shortland went under the Wearra brand from 1906. Wearra Shoes closed in 1982 and the buildings are now occupied by Weatherby-Woolnough, printers.

{3} 1896 William Shortland & Sons, boot & shoe manufacturers recorded. A 1916 advert for John Shortland Express Boot Works includes illustration of the factory (reproduced in report). Still John Shortland in 1967, but by 2000 occupied by Woolnough Book Binding Ltd.
This extensive factory was built c.1900 alongside an earlier factory complex, and subsequently replaced by a substantial 1930s development. Further additions were made to the site during the 1960s, before the factory ceased to be used for footwear manufacture.
John Shortland took over the firm of William Shortland & Sons in 1899, and the construction of a new works commenced in the same year.
John White, who worked at the Express Works from 1902, noted that John Shortland was seen as a "progressive and up-to-date" manufacturer.
New works in 1899 consisted of an embellished front range on Church Street, with a large block of north-lie sheds behind. The front block survives, but it is not clear to what extent the sheds behind were replaced by the 1930s factory development.
The two-storey front range has a limestone rubble façade office to an otherwise brick building. The office entrance has a segmental headed fanlight, flanked by pilasters with shouldered brackets, supporting a small canopy. The lintel bears the word "OFFICES" in raised lettering. The three timber sashes to the left are the original office windows. To the right is the original goods entrance with timber lintel and iron-framed windows to either side. The re-fenestrated windows above include what was the original taking-in door.Above the office entrance is a large decorated plaque which reads "Express Works, John Shortland".
At the rear are at least five north-lit sheds surviving, with oculi in their gable ends. They are surrounded by later additions and their full extent has not been established. The 1916 illustration exaggerates the scale of the works, but clearly shows the lay-out. Between 1899 and 1916 the factory is said to have been enlarged two or three times, much of this growth may have taken the form of further north-lit sheds.
The 1916 illustration also shows a number of small buildings which may have been part of the original factory owned by William Shortland. These were replaced by a large 1937 extension of two storeys with a basement.
The 1916 illustration also shows a number of small buildings which may have been part of the original factory owned by William Shortland. These were replaced by a large 1937 extension of two storeys with a basement. It was roughly square in plan with large steel-framed windows and concrete lintels. A parapet conceals the roof, the former being stepped on the street-frontage. This frontage is faced with rusticated Fletton bricks, and bears a plaque inscribed "Express Works, 1937".
There is a further 1930s range of three storeys to the rear of a yard opening off Church Street, but this was not clearly observed. It too has steel-framed windows with concrete lintels.
It is interesting to note that the expansion of the Express Works in the 1930s was accompanied by the construction of the Express Hall, which may have originated as a staff canteen or social club.

A rectangular-plan, flat-roofed building sited between the 1900 office range and the 1937 extension. The original purpose of this building is unclear. It may have been a boiler house on account of its tall chimney. However two original entrances, one for personnel, the other for goods, do not support this suggestion. It may have functioned as a warehouse, with the first floor providing offices, as the latter was better lit and heated. The building appears to date to the 1930s, and is faced with rusticated Fletton bricks, similar to those used in the adjacent 1937 extension.

To the south-east of the c.1900s office block is a two-storeyed, flat-roofed brick building, probably dating to the early 1960s. On the Church Street frontage this has coursed limestone cladding, with concrete panelling and pebble-dashing above. There is also a wide goods entrance on this frontage.

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

<2> Northamptonshire Industrial Archaeology Group, 2001, NIAG Industrial Gazetteer, (part checked) (Draft). SNN101121.

<3> ENGLISH HERITAGE, 2000, Northamptonshire Boot and Shoe Survey, Irthlingborough Site 12 (checked) (Catalogue). SNN105075.

<4> WHITE J., 1963, The John White Story, p.4 (unchecked) (Report). SNN105927.

<5> JOHN SAMUELS ARCHAEOLOGICAL CONSULTANTS, 2004, A Desk-based Archaeological Assessment of Express Hall, Nene View, Irthlingborough, (checked) (Report). SNN104944.

<6> Historic England, Undated, Express Works, Church Street, Irthlingborough, BF103743 (Archive). SNN114070.

Record last edited

Feb 5 2025 7:16PM