Building record 1160/0/294 - 20 Henry Street, Northampton

(Historic names: Top Boot Factory; Charles Smith, 48 Henry Street). This building is a three-storey, nine-bay boot factory, built probably for the firm of Charles Smith between 1890 and 1893

{1} Listed as 48 Henry Street. This building is a three-storey, nine-bay boot factory, built probably for the firm of Charles Smith between 1890 and 1893. The north front is unusual in treating the ground floor more or less as a semi-basement, with window sills set at ground level. The elevation has a blue brick plinth and a moulded brick eaves cornice, but details are otherwise of stone, including moulded sill bands on the two upper floors, and keystones to all the openings except the principal entrance. There are original entrances in each of the end bays. The principal entrance, at the east end, has a stone head incorporating consoles and must have served the office on the first floor. The plainer works entrance at the opposite end has a keyed cambered head and opens directly onto a stair. Original first- and second-floor loading doorways occupy the second bay from the west, and retain their original doors. The ground-floor windows have their original iron frames while the first-floor windows retain their original sashes with top hoppers. This differential treatment emphasises the basement-like treatment of the ground storey. Internally there are cast-iron columns with an axial timber beam.
The 1899 Goad plan indicates machines on the ground floor, closing, rough-stuff and offices on the first, and closing on the second floor. A small rear projection at the west end was probably a privy tower. Small single-storey ranges in the rear yard were supplemented during the 20th century (a last store was added between 1937 and 1946). On the north front a large entrance has been inserted in the third and fourth bays from the west and the second floor has had all fenestration replaced.

<1> ENGLISH HERITAGE, 2000, Northamptonshire Boot and Shoe Survey, Northampton Site 100 (Catalogue). SNN105075.

<2> Historic England, Undated, 20-24 Henry Street (formerly 22-24), Northampton, BF103618 (Archive). SNN113829.

Record last edited

Feb 17 2025 6:56PM