In the afternoon of Tuesday 23 June, 2026 we gave an illustrated talk at Rushden Library. It was an extremely hot day with the outside temperature about 31/32° so we wondered if anyone would turn up. About 20 people attended so in the circumstances that wasn’t too bad.
The talk, which is entitled “A Visit to Rushden’s Past,” is based on a visitor arriving in Rushden by train and walking through the town. It is a talk we have given before but with a slightly different route.
Rushden Railway Station
Rushden Station showing the iron footbridge which our visitor walked across.
This walk took our visitor over the iron footbridge at the Railway Station and down into High Street, along High Street with a short diversion into College Street to include the Ritz Cinema, and on to the end of High Street.
Rushden Police Station which our visitor would see on his right once he had crossed the bridge from the Station.
High Street showing the Feathers Inn and looking back the way our visitor has walked.
The Ritz Cinema opened in 1936
Our visitor then turned left into Newton Road which took him passed the Library and the Council Buildings. He then continued up Newton Road passing the British Women’s Temperance Association Hall on his right and Ebenezer Terrace on his left. Further up Newton Road is the Fire Station and Newton Road School. It was then time for him to return to the Station to catch his train home.
The Council Buildings opened in 1906
British Women’s Temperance Hall acquired by the BWTA in 1900
Rushden Fire Station opened in 1902
Newton Road School 1910. The junior school was opened in 1894 and the infants’ school in 1899
Above are just a few of the pictures included in the talk. They are of no particular era, but are buildings of interest in the town. Most are still standing although not always used for their original purpose. The Police Station was built in 1900 and demolished in 1975, The Feathers Inn was rebuilt in 1936 and destroyed by fire in 2018.
The talk lasted about an hour and everyone seemed to enjoy it. We are planning to do another talk at Rushden Library in October 2026.