5A & 7, CRABB STREET

5A & 7, CRABB STREET

Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places

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Overview

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
II
List Entry Number:
1391030
Date first listed:
23-Apr-2004
List Entry Name:
5A & 7, CRABB STREET
Statutory Address:
5A & 7, CRABB STREET
5A and 7 CRABB STREET, Rushden
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Location

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
II
List Entry Number:
1391030
Date first listed:
23-Apr-2004
List Entry Name:
5A & 7, CRABB STREET
Statutory Address 1:
5A & 7, CRABB STREET

The scope of legal protection for listed buildings

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

The scope of legal protection for listed buildings

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

Location

Statutory Address:
5A & 7, CRABB STREET

The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.

District:
North Northamptonshire (Unitary Authority)
Parish:
Rushden
National Grid Reference:
SP 95874 66351

Details

1740/0/10018 CRABB STREET 23-APR-04 5A & 7

II Boot and shoe factory, now office and dwelling. c.1890. Red brick with blue brick dressings and slate hipped roof. Main range of 3 storeys and basement with lower range of 2 storeys, part with basement. Entrance and taking-in doors on south side. Front is of 3 storeys of a cast-iron framed window on each floor either side a taking-in door, the top one with a crane and hoist beam. Ground floor has door to right and blocked windows to left. All openings have brick segmental arches. Right side to main part of Crabb Street is similar with 6 cast-iron framed windows on each floor. A fine detail is the blue brick band which goes round the building on each floor above the top of the segmental arches. There is a prominent moulded brick eaves cornice. The left side, which is similar on the top floor, is abutted by an extension of c.1900. There is a narrow lower 2-window range of 2 storeys and basement, a former privy tower, which has a curving parapet top, then, to left, the 2-storey office range. This has a door under bracketed hood to far left, 2 carriage openings and an alleyway, and 3 C20 windows in original openings above, with a small window with hoodmould over the entrance door. Further ranges in yard to rear. INTERIOR. Cast-iron columns support the timber ceiling beams on the lower floors. Queen-post roof construction. HISTORY. The complex probably originated as a conventional boot and shoe factory, but by the 1960's and 70's it had become a more specialised slipper factory. SOURCES. EH Northamptonshire Boot and Shoe Survey, Site Report No.53. Morrison, Kathryn A., with Bond, Ann, 'Built to Last? The Boot and Shoe Buildings of Northamptonshire', forthcoming, fig.4.

This is a very good and complete example of a 3-storey and basement factory with virtually contemporary offices and privy tower. A recent careful and unobtrusive conversion has maintained much of the character of a factory interior. This complex also forms a good group with Cunnington Bros. (q.v.) at the top of the street. Together with the much larger Cromwell Works (q.v.) they form a significant trio of boot and shoe factories of the late C19 exemplifying Rushden's expansion as a result of the success of the boot and shoe industry.

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:
492719
Legacy System:
LBS

Sources

Books and journals
Morrison, K, Bond, A, Built to Last: The Buildings of the Northamptonshire Boot and Shoe Industry, (2004)

Other
Northamptonshire Boot and Shoe Industry Report,

Legal

This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.

Ordnance survey map of 5A & 7, CRABB STREET

Map

This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 29-Jun-2026 at 12:54:36.

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© Crown copyright [and database rights] 2026. OS AC0000815036. Use of this mapping is subject to Terms and Conditions.

End of official list entry

All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.

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