Building record 3884/93/1 - No. 5 Strode Road

A three-storey terraced building, designed to match No. 3, built post-1872. Used as a fruiterer and greengrocer in the early 20th century and subsequently as a dairy

{1} Ordnance Survey mapping shows that properties numbered 5 to 9 Strode Road were built at some juncture between 1888 and 1900. However, the population census returns of 1891 and 1901 are unreliable for information about the early occupants.

A three-storey terraced building, designed to match No. 3, built post-1872. The ground floor a shop front comprised of a wooden framed bay with on plinth of brown glazed bricks. Above and at the rear of the shop, was a dwelling house. Five rooms, including kitchen were recorded in 1901. It is uncertain whether a shop was in existence at this time. The first floor has a bay with one front and two side two-pane sash windows. The second floor was lit by a four pane sash window. The brickwork is orange-red Flemish bond, with a double stretcher bond of yellow brick level with the sill of the second floor window.
The ground floor became a dairy at some time prior to 1914, the front room becoming the shop. A painted shop sign ‘Strode Road Dairy’/ ‘Phillips’ Dairy’ is still just discernible on the northeast side of the building. A dwelling room to the rear was separated from the shop by a central staircase. A kitchen and bathroom was added to the rear of the ground floor, at some time in the late 20th century. This probably replaced a scullery, outhouse and outside toilet.
The first floor comprises front and rear dwelling rooms, divided by the central stairway.
The second floor comprises front and rear dwelling rooms, again divided by the central stairway. Above the stairway, the southeast wall has a brick supporting arch spanning the chimney breasts of front and rear rooms.

Between at 1903 and 1911 No. 5 was used as a fruiterer and greengrocer. Shortly before the First World War it became a dairy shop, from which operated a ‘round’, delivering milk and cream in cans. It became known as ‘Strode Road Dairy’ or ‘Phillips Dairy’. In the 1960s No. 7 was added to the business. By this time the dairy owned a fleet of vans delivering bottled milk. The dairy shop is reputed to have produced the first crepes and ice creams in Wellingborough. The main dairy was adjoined to the rear of No 1 Strode Road at No.25 Knox Road.

<1> Planas, M. & Wilson, M., 2014, Historic Building Record: Nos. 5-9 Strode Road, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, (checked) (Report). SNN109448.

<2> Horne B. (Editor), 2014, South Midlands Archaeology (44), p. 51 (Journal). SNN109842.

Record last edited

May 7 2019 1:26PM