Rushden Research Group: Joseph, Arthur & Charlie Robinson

Joseph, Arthur, Charles & Charlie Robinson


An early picture of Arthur Robinson's Beerhouse - and Charlie's Newsagents Courtesy of Rushden Museum	Scouts in the foreground suggest a Church Parade

Wellingborough & Kettering News, August 14th, 1880, transcribed by Kay Collins

On the fourth day of August, 1880, Joseph Robinson made application for a retail licence to sell beer.

He was a "Shopkeeper and Fly Driver, now residing at a House situate in High-street, and adjoining Church-street, in the Parish of Rushden, in a property of and rented by me under Arthur Campbell Bulkley Praed, and now in my own occupation".

Later, Arthur Robinson held the licence to sell beer 'not to be consumed on the premises'. The other part of the property was the news agents shop. An advert above the shop window offers cycles for hire.

The shop was on the corner of High Street and Church Street, and looked towards the Church. In front there are several Scouts, suggesting this photograph was taken at a Church Tea Parade. We do not know when it was taken.

	Left - an outing for the newspaper delivery boys. Charlie Robinson is centre, seated. The year is unknown so if you can help please get in touch. Below- one of the cycles for hire?

If you are one of the boys in the picture please let us know.


An early postcard showing Robinson's thatched property at the south end of High Street c1905	In the 1950s

Rushden Echo, 21st March 1969, transcribed by Kay Collins

Newsagents who were part of old Rushden

For about 60 years the name Robinson was synonymous with newspapers in Rushden. From the turn of the century up to almost eight years ago Charles Robinson (father and son) ran a newsagents in the High Street.

This week Charles Robinson (junior) reminisced to an “Echo” reporter about his father’s business and the days when newspapers were so much cheaper than today.

Mr. Robinson, 53, and his wife Sylvia, cannot escape being connected with the old Rushden. Mr. Robinson’s father started the newsagents, his grandparents ran an outside beer shop and the Robinson’s house in High Street South is on the site of the old Coach and Horses public house.

Licensing Application 1908

Mr. Charles Robinson, who started his business in part of his parents’ beer shop,
is pictured in the doorway of his original shop.

To trace the start of the Robinson’s newsagents one must go back to the turn of the century when Charles Robinson, senior, was 11.

Then he was selling copies of the “Evening Telegraph”. After a few years he opened his own small shop by the side of his parents’ beer shop.

The beer shop, which was run by his grandmother, sold beer which was not to be consumed on the premises. His grandfather had a horse and trap and he used to collect people from Wellingborough station.

After some years at the premises attached to the beer shop, he moved to premises in the High Street. Next door to his shop was a fruiterers’ shop run by his brother. At the other end of High Street was a newsagents run by his sister.

His son joined the business, but in 1951 Mr. Robinson senior died, shortly after celebrating his 50 years of newspaper work.

During his 50 years as a newsagent he was known for his clever advertising in the local Press. One advert in the “Rushden Echo” was in the form of a ballot sheets asking people to elect him to serve them in his shop. The following week he followed this up with another advert thanking all the people who voted for him.

His son retired from the business about eight years ago – although the shop can still be seen as it is now Colman’s newsagents.

Mr. Charles Robinson junior, with a customer at the
shop in High Street before he retired.


4th prize out of 700 competitiors - 'Hobbies' display 1911 Photo Courtesy of Rushden Museum	Charles Robinson's newsagency c1919 - Postcard by C F Chapman

The shops in the 1930s

The fruit shop next door decorated for the 1937 Coronation

Charles Robinson
Photo Courtesy of Rushden Museum

In the 1940s

The Austin 7 van
Photo Courtesy of Rushden Museum

The building was demolished in April 1920

The Rushden Echo, 2nd April 1920

A piece of dwindling old Rushden is now being demolished. The interesting and picturesque house at the corner of High-street and Church-street, until recently occupied by Mr A Robinson, is in the hands of the 'house demobiliser', and this means that only Farm House School is left of the High-street of the once peaceful village of Rushden. The building has been a licensed house for a large number of years, the licence having been held by the Robinson family for about 40 years. Mr Joseph Robinson held it for a long time and on his death his widow, Mrs Elizabeth Robinson, took over the business. The licence was, on the death of Mrs Robinson, transferred to her son, Mr Arthur Robinson, who has held it since then. The portion of the building on the right was for 16 years used as a newsagent's shop by Mr Chas Robinson, who now occupies the shop close by. A considerable piece of the land at the corner will be cut off to improve the corner. The licence has been transferred to Portland-road.