Page 28 - Thrapston Life February 2023

GLANCE
AT THE
PAST
Eric Franklin looks back
Although some parts of our community have changed very little over the last hundred
years, others are altered beyond recognition. This month, I am focussing on the junction
of High Street, Cosy Nook, Bridge Street and Midland Road. During the 1960’s when major demolition work affected the town centre, the three monochrome pictures were taken by local photographers, including Cyril Diamond.
buildings that were attached to the Swan Hotel. Many years before, there was a small lace- making business along here.
In 1998 the town centre was flooded after heavy rain overwhelmed the draining system, resulting in the corner under consideration looking rather soggy, as seen in my photograph taken on 11th April of that year. (At some point, I will write one of these ‘Glances’ on the floods.)
The first shot is of Wilson’s shop coming down, which is now part of
the site of the Fire Station. Just beyond is Cosy Nook with Johnson’s butcher’s shop on the corner. The roof of the Plaza can be seen above the roofline on the right.
not a fence in sight to keep people off the rubble!
The final picture, from the Hazel Evans archive, is dated to the early 1900’s and was probably taken by Frederick Knighton from Woodford. Looking along Midland Road during the early years of the twentieth century, the road, with a raised pavement,
The next is looking from the first
picture into town, with the old High Street shops now demolished and just one outhouse of the Swan Hotel standing. One old swan-necked lamppost is left with old road signs attached and a board advising of demolition work. Note, not a fence in sight to keep people off the rubble!
The next view, looking down Cosy Nook with the Plaza entrance on the left, shows the array of
is still of just a basic construction. During the winter months, the road would have been very muddy whilst in the summer months very dry and dusty. The Parish Council employed someone to dampen the road surface twice a day to cut down the dust; in 1915 Mr. Richardson tendered for the contract to water the street at 7 shillings (today, 35p) per half day, which was accepted. The same gentleman was
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