Building record 7203/89/1 - John White Shoe Factory

Factory, 1938. Built by Sir Albert Richardson. Red brick to base of semicircular bay window and painted brick. Roof partly concealed behind parapet and partly visible sloping glazing.

{1} Factory, 1938. Built by Sir Albert Richardson. Red brick to base of semicircular bay window and painted brick. Roof partly concealed behind parapet and partly visible sloping glazing. Framed construction with metal columns. Symmetrical front with central projection, the centre of which projects further with segmental bay window which has curved glass. Glazing in original metal frames, is continuous to projecting portion and continues to left and right of this as ribbon windows; deep brick parapet above. Basement projects below centre in red brick, and is semi-circular, with a flight of steps to right and left. Full height glazing between brick piers to left and right of centre. Projecting entrance porch to north return has walls of glass bricks, as does projecting rear entrance. Tall chimney of black painted brick, square in plan, rises at rear with battered sides and cornice. A rare example of a factory by this important classical architect.

{3} The factory was designed by Sir Albert Richardson specifically for John White, and the design executed as planned, but has since been added to. There is little information concerning any later alterations to the fabric of the factory. The factory's canteen building to the north-west is the work of Richardson and seems to have been built during 1942-4 and expanded in 1951. The house within the grounds (63 Higham Road) and the electricity sub-station to the north-west are contemporary with the factory and also the work of Richardson.

{4} Archaeological buildings recording and photographic survey were undertaken prior to development works to turn the former shoe factory into flats. A record of the building as it stands today, and an attempt to show how the building functioned through its lifetime has been made. Factory of 1938 by Sir Albert Richardson specifically for John White; red brick to base of semicircular bay window and painted brick; roof partly concelaed behind parapet and partly visible sloping glazing; framed construction with metal columns; symmetrical front with central projection the centre of which projects further with segmental bay window which has curved glass. Glazing in original metal frames is continuous to projecting portion and continues to left and right of this as ribbon windows; deep brick parpet above. Basement projects below centre in red brick, and is semicicular, with a flight of steps to right and left. Full height glazing between brick piers to left and right of centre. Projecting entrance porch to north return has walls of glass bricks, as does projecting rear entrance. Tall brick chimney of black painted brick, square in plan, rises at rear with battered sides and cornice. A rare example of a factory by this important classical architect.

{6} "Just before the Second World War I built the most beautiful factory in the shoe trade at Lime Street Rushden. Again, its design was the work of Professor Richardson, and naturally attracted great attention. Many notable people came to see that factory in the years that followed, including the Duchess of Gloucester, Lord Woolton and Mr Hugh Gaitskell. For a time we floodlit the building in our pride; then with the war we had to turn off the electricity because the illumination could be seen by an aircraft 60 miles away".

{8} Large shoe factory built for shoe manufacturer John White in 1938 by the architect Sir Albert Richardson. The building is listed grade II. The house to the frontage of the building and those along Lime Street may be associated with the factory. The building is currently empty and has been subject to some vandalism.

{10} Two undated photos, also two photos dated January 1998;

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 8/10005 (checked) (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<2> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), G07 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN41470.

<3> ENGLISH HERITAGE, 2000, Northamptonshire Boot and Shoe Survey, Site 1 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN105075.

<4> Chapman A , Chapman P, 2000-01, Rushden, The John White Shoe Factory, (checked) (Note). SNN104022.

<5> Thorne A.; Atkins R., 2001, Archaeological Buldings Recording, Photographic Survey And Desktop Survey Of The John White Shoe Factory, Rushden, (unchecked) (Report). SNN100758.

<6> WHITE J., KB (Keep Believing), The John White Factory, (unchecked) (Booklet). SNN100449.

<7> Thorne A.; Atkins R., 2001, Archaeological Buldings Recording, Photographic Survey And Desktop Survey Of The John White Shoe Factory, Rushden, (unchecked) (Report). SNN100758.

<8> Ballinger J., 1999, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Industrial Period, (unchecked) (Digital archive). SNN4.

<9> Historic England, Undated, Former John White shoe factory, Lime Street/Higham Road, Rushden, BF103647 (Archive). SNN114098.

<10> Photographs of buildings in Rushden (Photographs). SNN114607.

Record last edited

Jan 25 2023 11:28AM