Rushden Museum has recently received a donation of a collection of crest ware, most of them bearing the Rushden crest. Crest ware is mostly credited to William Henry Goss (1833-1906) and his sons, Adolphus and Victor, who came up with the idea of making souvenirs bearing the crests of seaside towns once the railways had made it possible for ordinary people to travel. Three of the pieces we have received have the Goss trade mark and also the crest of Sir Goddard Pemberton, who was the son of Robert and Margaret Pemberton. The Pemberton family occupied Rushden Hall from 1461 to 1641. Goddard was Member of Parliament for Higham Ferrers in 1604 and Sheriff of Hertfordshire in 1615. He died on 1 August 1616 of the “new ague or sickness” and was buried at Rushden on 10 August 1616.
The tomb of Sir Goddard Pemberton in St. Mary’s Church Rushden
St. Mary’s Church, Rushden
The three pieces of Goss china bearing the crest of Goddard Pemberton
The Goss trademark
Rushden Hall occupied by the Pemberton Family from 1461 to 1641
These three pieces with the Rushden crest have the Shelley trademark
One of the Shelley trademarks
This piece with the boots and the rose has the Clifton mark and also H. Cartwright General Stores,
Cartwright’s Store, 121 High Street, Rushden
The Clifton trademark and the stamp of H. Cartwright, General Stores, Rushden
Harry Cartwright came to Rushden with his wife, Emily, after their marriage in 1883 and at first he sold grindery. By 1904 he was trading at 4 High Street as a general dealer, and added numbers 6 and 8 to his stores. In 1908 he moved to 121 High Street, where he traded as a hardware and fancy goods merchant. By 1926 he was a general dealer, selling fancy goods and toys and was also a gramophone agent, an ironmonger and a stationer. He continued trading there until 1930.
The crest ware was also sold at W. J. Neville’s at 55 High Street, Rushden. William James Neville’s first store was on the Green, but by 1914 he had moved to 55 High Street trading as printer, stationer and tobacconist. The shop was also a booking office for holidays and theatre trips. The shop closed in 1997.
No. 55 High Street, Rushden
These pieces all have the Rushden crest and most have the stamp Czecho-Slovakia