Isham, Northamptonshire

The Red Lion Isham

We bought our house in 1968, it is almost opposite the Red Lion. The landlord at the time was Mr. Fred Nobles who was my wife's uncle, and we believe he had been landlord from about 1955. The pub still had an orchard at that time with Gents toilets "up the yard". One of the most talked about clients was the... [more]

The Old Red Lion

I was born in the above pub in  1940. My grandmother Mary Jane Abbot used to run it and there was an old skittle alley in the bar. I was born in the room above it. The pub used to have an old rose garden, an orchard and a small car park, a pet pig [Sally] and I used to help... [more]

Northamptonshire Living Memories

This view has changed a lot since 1950 due to the increase in traffic. The Old Red Lion on the right survives but is renamed The Monk and Minstrel. In the foreground there is now a bus shelter erected in 1953, Coronation Year. Beyond, the trees and walls have made way for a wider road. Most of the buildings on... [more]

Northamptonshire Living Memories

South of Kettering, the village of Isham's best parts lie east of the main Wellingborough Road. Here we look along Middle Street with Little Thatches on the left, its windows now painted white. The thatched cottages beyond have been all but demolished, but the front walls remain as part of a flat roofed house called The Old Workshop.

Kettering Town and City Memories

The pavilion in the park became popular locally for celebrations and company dinners. One of Charles Wicksteed's nventions was a machine for the tearooms, which cut and buttered bread. As he grew older, Charles Wicksteed would often visit the park in a two-seater car, with his terrier, Jerry, sitting in the passenger seat. In 1927 Jerry disappeared on one of these... [more]