Rushden in September 1919

What was going on in Rushden 100 years ago this month?  The country as a whole was still recovering from the effects of WWI and Rushden was the same.

The first meeting of the Rushden Urban District Council was held in the Vestry Hall in January 1895 when Mr. Wilkins was elected chairman.  In 1906 the Council Buildings in Newton Road were built and the meetings were held there.  By September 1919 Mr. Fred Knight was chairman for the third time.  He was a prominent figure in the town and was also the Captain of the Rushden Fire Brigade.

Horses were still very much in use, and at the Council meeting on the 10 September 1919 it was decided to contact the Remount Service at Market Harborough presumably to replace some of the horses taken during the war.  Progress was being made, though, because the Council were about to purchase a motor lorry ‘propelled by electricity.’  They were to take out a fully comprehensive insurance policy costing £1,000 which necessitated a loan of £1,250 at a rate of 5½%.

Street lighting was to be commenced on the 20 September, but only half of the lights were to be switched on owing to the shortage of coal and gas.  These were to be switched off at 10 p.m.

At the Rushden Library things were also difficult.  The penny rate which brought in £80 was barely sufficient to cover expenses, and left very little to buy new books which cost about 6s.  9d. (33p) each.  The committee were authorised to spend £15 on new books.

Tenders were considered for 24 houses in Trafford Road.  The Ministry of Health approved the tender of £15,000 submitted by Mr. H. Fisher of Northampton, subject to modifications:-

Lime mortar to be in the proportion of 3 to 1 in lieu of 2 to 1.

One granolithic in lieu of quarry tile paving in scullery, larder, pantry, w.c. etc., and 4 inches concrete under in lieu of 6 inches.

Omit roller blinds.

Solignum on all woodwork in lieu of oil colour.

Two coats plaster on walls and one coat on slab partitions.

Omit stain and varnish dresser tops.

Omit painting to margins of stairs.

The Clerk, Mr. G. S. Mason, was instructed to write to the Ministry of Health protesting against the cuts, as the work had already been started.

Rushden was really short of houses and the Council had started a programme of building in 1914, but of course, the outbreak of WWI put that on hold.  The first Council houses were built in Kings Road in 1914.

With September comes Rushden Feast, held in Spencer Park, and in 1919 they were calling it the Great Victory Feast.  It started on the 20 September and according to the Rushden Echo representative you could – “ try at darts that have an affinity for wrong numbers, rifles that crack but don’t strike, hoop-la rings that bounce off the best prizes, cokernuts that defy all throwers, motors that threaten your life if you dare to enter the surging crowds to get a ride, and side shows of human marvels easier to see than to believe without seeing, learn astonishing things about yourself by showing your palms to the Silent Lady, or about somebody else by putting pennies in the slot machines.  In fact, there is fun for children and elders, but the latter assure each other that they seek not pleasure for themselves, but go for the amusement of the youngsters!”