In August 1778 the Northampton Mercury reported the following:
Rushden Inclosure
The Commissioners give Notice to the Public in general, and Proprietors of Lands and Estates in and near Rushden in particular, that Duplicates of the List and Description of the several Public Roads, by them staked out, in, over, through, and upon, the Open and Common-Field Lands, directed by the Act of Parliament to be Divided and Inclosed, are affixed upon Rushden Church Door, and also lodged at the Swan-and-Dolphin Inn, in Rushden, for their Examination and Inspection. Any Person or Persons, have objection to any of the said Roads, or any Part or Parts thereof, are desired to deliver the same in Writing to the said Commissioners at their Meeting, which will be held at the Green Dragon Inn, in Higham Ferrers, on Wednesday the 9 Day of September next.
By Order of the Commissioners
W York, Secret
The building on the right of the picture is the Coach and Horses, originally known as the Swan and Dolphin
The Green Dragon, Higham Ferrers
The Enclosure map 1778
On the 7 and 14 August, 1880 the Wellingborough & Kettering News carried 3 notices of application for Licenses to the General Annual Licensing meeting, to be held at Wellingborough Police Station, by Ebenezer Cox of the New Inn, Rushden, Joseph Robinson, High Street, Rushden and James Warren of Little Street, Rushden. The meeting was to be held on the 30 August.
The building on the left of the picture is the shop owned by Joseph Robinson
At the meeting the magistrates present were H. M. Stockdale, Esq., R. Arkwright, Esq., and Spencer Pratt, Esq.
The two out-door licenses for Joseph Robinson and James Warren were granted.
In the case of Ebenezer Cox it was stated that Cox had had the New Inn for 20 years. About 30 years previously there had been four fully licensed houses in Rushden and at the present time there were the same number, although the population had doubled. The New Inn had been rebuilt and now had three storeys, 10 rooms, one or two of which were a considerable size, with stabling and accommodation for six horses. It was the first house for refreshment for travellers coming in from the direction of Higham Ferrers and the next nearest place for accommodation was the Wheatsheaf which was 700 yards away. The New Inn was rented at £25 a year and was rated at the same amount. The memorial in favour of the license had been signed by all adjoining land owners, one overseer, two church wardens, nine farmers, three shoe manufacturers, two curriers, and eighteen tradesmen.
A sketch showing the Wheatsheaf next to St. Mary’s Church.
The Wheatsheaf was rebuilt in 1888
The applicant was then subject to severe cross-examination by Mr. Jackson. Cox admitted that in December 1877, Frederick Cox broke his leg in his house whilst playing with a man, and that in 1879 Thomas Litchfield hurt his leg whilst he was in the New Inn. The witness was not aware of the consequence of that injury but Frederick Cox was on the parish for 12 months. Cox was also not aware that bad women frequented his house. About 3 weeks previously a man named Henry Burgess had an attack of delirium tremens in the yard of the New Inn. Cox said he was not in the habit of taking articles of wearing apparel in payment of drink supplied. He once bought a coat off William Abrahams for 8s but after the purchase Abrahams was reluctant to part with the coat and walked off with it. On 25 July 1879 witness was convicted of allowing drunkenness on his premises and fined £1 with 14s 6d costs.
After much arguing, for and against the granting of the license, the Chairman of the Bench did not think that a sufficient case had been made out for granting the license.
The man with the dog is standing outside the Railway Inn originally known as the New Inn.
The name changed in 1894 with the coming of the railway.
The Railway Inn as it is today.
I would like to know any information on James Warren for my family history.
Hi Andy, I will check our catalogue to see if we have anything, but your best bet is to go to rushdenheartsandsoles.co.uk and search on there.
Regards,
Gill