Building record 1160/0/293 - 24-30 Henry Street, Northampton

(Historic names: Eyre Bros shoe factory and Arnold Bros shoe factory). This is a three-storey, seven-bay boot and shoe factory, built on the south side of Henry Street between 1890 and 1893 probably for the firm of Eyre Brothers, who already had a factory in Long Buckby.

{1} Listed as 50 Henry Street; This is a three-storey, seven-bay boot and shoe factory, built on the south side of Henry Street between 1890 and 1893 probably for the firm of Eyre Brothers, who already had a factory in Long Buckby (Site 5). The end bays of the north front incorporate a single opening per floor, while the intervening bays have paired openings. The central bay is flanked by limestone pilasters which are corbelled at second-floor level and rise to a limestone pediment. The wall stands on a blue brick plinth rising to ground-floor sill level. Limestone lintel and sill bands run the length of the building on each floor, the ground-floor lintel band incorporating a small cornice. There is also a moulded eaves cornice. The windows have moulded sills; the fenestration is original and consists of sashes with four-pane top-hoppers. There is an original semicircular-headed entrance in the westernmost bay which probably served the offices on the first floor (Goad). A plain second entrance occupies the bay at the opposite end and must have formed the main works entrance. On the second floor of the central bay there is a large loading doorway flanked by side-lights occupying a single large keyed segmental-headed opening. A large works entrance in the third bay from the west is a later insertion.
The 1899 Goad plan shows the three-storey factory used for machines on the ground floor, rough-stuff, clicking and offices on the first, and closing and shoe room on the second. To the rear there is a narrow three-storey wing at the west end, mirrored on plan by a single-storey east wing, and both attached to a large single-storey Last Room along the rear of the plot, the three ranges enclosing a small yard. The yard is partially occupied by two small structures, one housing a gas engine, the other a ‘cyclone’ – presumably a ventilation device.
Around 1909 the firm of Arnold Bros took over the Normal Boot & Shoe Factory on Talbot Road (Site 103), formerly belonging to Edward Grimsdell, and before 1912 had expanded into the former Eyre Bros factory. Further single-storey ranges were built, infilling the yard, at about the same time, and a timber gallery was constructed linking the two factories. This and other rear ranges were not seen.
Abutting the east gable of the former Eyre Bros factory on Henry Street is a single-storey building, dating from the period 1905-12 and built on land formerly described as ‘vacant land, timber scattered’ (Goad). It abuts the three-storey factory at a straight joint, but the blue brick plinth, sill and lintel bands and cornice continue those of the earlier range. Not separately numbered or listed in directories, it must have formed part of the same factory site. It consists of a street range and three north-lit ranges, the southernmost set back on the east to leave a small yard. The street range was originally of four bays, the two central bays incorporating paired windows. It retains two original windows with sashes and top-hoppers, and part of a third. There is a large, possibly inserted, entrance in the westernmost bay, and modern openings at the opposite end.

[2} This twelve bay, three storey boot and shoe factory of the 1890s is constructed of brick, has a slate roof and a large central taking in door on the second floor.

<1> ENGLISH HERITAGE, 2000, Northamptonshire Boot and Shoe Survey, Northampton Site 99 (Catalogue). SNN105075.

<2> Morrison K.A.; Bond A., 2004, Built To Last? The Buildings of The Northamptonshire Boot and Shoe Industry (Book). SNN104903.

<3> Historic England, Undated, 26-36 Henry Street, Northampton, BF103617 (Archive). SNN113830.

Record last edited

May 21 2025 10:20AM