Rushden: Northamptonshire Boot and Shoe Town on the A6 Between Wellingborough and Higham
Rushden was a boot and shoe town. At the industry's peak in the early 20th century, the town had over 100 shoe factories. The trade declined through the second half of the century as production moved overseas, but the buildings remain, many converted to other uses. The Rushden Historical Transport Society operates a heritage railway on the old Midland Railway line. The population is around 30,000 for the Rushden and Higham Ferrers area. The town sits in the North Northamptonshire unitary authority, about 12 miles east of Northampton and 10 miles south of Corby.
The High Street has a mix of independents and small chains. Rushden Lakes, a large retail and leisure park opened in 2017 on the shore of a former gravel pit, has become a significant draw, with restaurants, shops, a cinema, and nature trails around the water. The A6 runs through Rushden, connecting to Kettering to the north and Bedford to the south. The A45 links to the A14 and the wider trunk road network. Rushden does not have a railway station; Wellingborough station, about five miles to the west, is on the Midland Main Line with fast services to London St Pancras. For those interested in adult companionship in east Northamptonshire, Rushden's A6 and A45 access put Wellingborough, Kettering, Northampton, and Bedford all within a short drive.
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Rushden was a boot and shoe town. At the industry's peak in the early 20th century, the town had over 100 shoe factories. The trade declined through the second half of the century as production moved overseas, but the buildings remain, many converted to other uses. The Rushden Historical Transport Society operates a heritage railway on the old Midland Railway line. The population is around 30,000 for the Rushden and Higham Ferrers area. The town sits in the North Northamptonshire unitary authority, about 12 miles east of Northampton and 10 miles south of Corby.
The High Street has a mix of independents and small chains. Rushden Lakes, a large retail and leisure park opened in 2017 on the shore of a former gravel pit, has become a significant draw, with restaurants, shops, a cinema, and nature trails around the water. The A6 runs through Rushden, connecting to Kettering to the north and Bedford to the south. The A45 links to the A14 and the wider trunk road network. Rushden does not have a railway station; Wellingborough station, about five miles to the west, is on the Midland Main Line with fast services to London St Pancras. For those interested in adult companionship in east Northamptonshire, Rushden's A6 and A45 access put Wellingborough, Kettering, Northampton, and Bedford all within a short drive.
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