Building record 3884/0/219 - No. 21a High Street

This two-storey building is on the east side of the High Street to the rear of number 21. It is possible that it was used as a workshop by a shoe making concern located at this address in 1887. The combination of stone walls patched with brick and a roof covered in tiles suggests that this building was built before the 19th century (probably in the 18th century) and has been rebuilt.

{1} This two-storey building, now 21a High Street, is to the rear of buildings on the east side of the High Street, with modern access from St John’s Road. The building has some workshop characteristics and may have formed part of the shoe manufacturing business of Henry Fowler, located at No. 21 in 1877. Other parts of the complex, which may also have formed part of the works, were not inspected. Although rather nondescript in appearance, No. 21a may be one of the earliest surviving leather-trades buildings in Wellingborough. The 1885 OS map shows that it was originally on the south side of a yard at the rear of 21 High Street. Access to the yard was by a pedestrian entrance on the south side of No. 21. Between 1924 and 1965 houses on the south side of St John’s Street were demolished for road widening, and vehicular access is now from that road. The yard was also extended eastwards.

No. 21a is gabled east-west and appears to have a three-bay elevation facing the yard to the north. A stack wall divides the eastern bay from the others. The large first-floor window in this bay is also distinct, having a square head at eaves level, rather than a segmental arch as on the other two, which are slightly smaller. The combination of ironstone walls and various phases of brick in the gable suggest that the range has been extensively rebuilt or repaired. The roof covering is of pantiles.

<1> ENGLISH HERITAGE, 2000, Northamptonshire Boot and Shoe Survey, Site 31 (checked) (Catalogue). SNN105075.

<2> Walker C., 2012, Archaeological Desk-Based Heritage Assessment of Land at High Street, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire December 2012, (unchecked) (Report). SNN109268.

<2> Historic England, Undated, 21-21A High Street, Wellingborough, BF103762 (Archive). SNN113946.

Record last edited

Feb 17 2025 7:15PM