In June 1902 Miss May Skinner married Mr. George Denton at St. Mary’s Church, Rushden. May Skinner was the eldest daughter of Mr. G. H. Skinner, a member of Rushden Urban District Council and butcher in the town, and George Denton was the eldest son of Mr. George Denton, C.C., of “Eastfields”, chairman of the Rushden Urban Council, and head of the firm of Messrs. B. Denton and Son, boot manufacturers.
St. Mary’s Church, Rushden
The service was conducted by the Rev. W. R. Morse (rector) and assisted by the Rev. J. K. Forrest, and the organist was J. Enos Smith. The bride’s dress was described as white satin, with long court train. The bodice was elaborately tucked and trimmed with real lace, the skirt also being tucked and trimmed with rucked chiffon, and embroidered with lace and lovers’ knots. She wore a bridal veil with orange blossoms, and carried a shower bouquet of white lilac, lilies of the valley, Lilium Harrisi, Eucharis lilies, white roses and stephanotis, with trailers of asparagus fern. She was attended by six bridesmaids and two pages.
Miss May Skinner
The church was decorated with white flowers, ferns and palms supplied by Mr. Seckington.
Seckington’s shop at 86 High Street with Mr. Harry Seckington, his daughter May, and errand boy Bob Frisby
Note the ‘Fireman’ sign over the shop door
The reception for a large number of guests, including some of the prominent people of the town, was held at the Waverley Hotel. The present list was impressive and included a lot of silver ware and furniture. The bride’s parents and the bridegroom’s father gave cheques, but the bridegroom’s mother gave a piano.
The Waverley Hotel
The bride’s father, Mr. G. H. Skinner, carried on his business at 2 High Street South, Rushden, where he farmed the land and had his own slaughterhouse, selling the meat in the shop. The property was originally part of the Rushden Hall Estate, and was bought by Mr. Skinner in 1929 when the estate was sold. Mr. Skinner was a member of the Rushden Urban Councill and was chairman in 1909.
No. 2 High Street South, when the business was run by H. Cooper & Sons
Farm outbuildings on the edge of the lane leading to Rushden Hall
The bridgegroom’s father, Mr. George Denton, was the head of the firm Messrs. B. Denton & Son, and had a large factory in Rushden High Street. He was also a councillor and was chairman of Rushden Urban Council in 1902. The family home was Eastfields, in Victoria Road, Rushden
Rushden High Street with Denton’s factory towards the left of the picture
Eastfields, the home of the Denton family
The organist for the wedding service, Joseph Enos Smith, was appointed organist at St. Mary’s church in 1875. He lodged in High Street and taught Organ, Piano and Harmonium. He was married in 1887 and he and his wife Sarah lived in Wellingborough Road. About 1903 he moved to 22 Church Street and carried on his work from there. He was organist at St. Mary’s Church for over 50 years.
J. Enos Smith