Village Archive
A growing archive of photographs showing Wollaston village life — streets, buildings, people, events and businesses across more than a century.
1940–1969The High Street looking north, with the whitewashed gable of The Boot Inn on the left, its sign advertising "Phipps' Ales & Stout." A fitting name for a pub in a village built on the boot and shoe trade. A gas lamp stands at the junction and two women with prams make their way along the empty road. The ironstone and brick buildings on the right remain largely recognisable today.
1940–1969A wide view of Wollaston from the surrounding meadows, with St Mary the Virgin's spire rising above the village rooftops. Tall Lombardy poplars frame the left of the scene and cattle graze in the foreground field. The ironstone and brick rooflines of the village centre are clearly visible, with the War Memorial just discernible to the right of the spire. A timeless view that would still be recognisable today.
1900–1939A beautifully colourised photograph of the High Street Co-Op corner, c.1905. The shopkeeper stands in his white apron to the right of the doorway, alongside a woman holding a child and a young man, with a collie dog at their feet. The shop window is crammed with tins and advertisements — Monkey Brand Soap, Colman's, Orbuy's Soap, and various tea brands. The ironstone terrace stretching away to the left is still clearly recognisable today.
1900–1939A beautifully hand-tinted postcard showing the High Street looking south towards St Mary's spire, taken from the junction with Thrift Street. The corner shop — advertising Colman's Mustard and Colman's Starch — occupies the prominent red-brick building with its distinctive green-painted bay window and stepped entrance. Two figures stand in the unpaved road, with the ironstone cottages of the High Street stretching away towards the church. The corner building is today occupied by Els Bakes.
1900–1939A colourised Edwardian photograph looking north up the High Street towards London Road. The ivy-clad ironstone cottage dominates the left foreground behind iron railings; a shopfront with a painted fascia board stands mid-street on the left. A gas lamp rises on the right beside a limestone boundary wall. Four or five figures in Edwardian dress stand in the unpaved road. The brick and ironstone terraces stretching away to the right remain recognisable today.
1900–1939A colourised multi-view postcard captioned "Greetings from Wollaston." Five oval vignettes show High Street, Irchester Road, The Cenotaph (with St Mary's spire behind), College Street and London Road — all hand-tinted in warm brick reds, greens and blues. Marked K.3. A remarkable document of Edwardian Wollaston, with five streets captured in a single card.
1940–1969A B&W postcard captioned "St Mary's Church, Wollaston." The full height of the elegant Gothic spire is framed by mature trees, with the churchyard in the foreground showing a stone statue on a plinth, clipped topiary yews and well-kept lawns. Telephone wires cross the sky — the only hint of modernity in an otherwise timeless scene.
1900–1939A postcard captioned "Wollaston Church." The nave looking east towards the chancel, with the oak pews stretching away on either side. The arcade piers display the characteristic alternating bands of ironstone and limestone that give St Mary's its distinctive interior character. A large brass chandelier hangs from the nave roof, and memorial tablets are visible on the north and south walls. The altar and chancel arch are lit from the east window beyond.
1900–1939A hand-tinted postcard captioned "Wollaston. The Cenotaph. K.2." The war memorial — a tall Celtic cross on a stepped plinth — stands in the memorial garden with St Mary's spire rising behind the trees. Flowers are laid at the base and a wooden bench sits to the left. The dry-stone wall enclosure and formal planting remain largely unchanged today.
1900–1939A hand-tinted postcard captioned "Irchester Rd. Wollaston." Looking south along Irchester Road, with a magnificent avenue of mature trees lining the left side and a terrace of Victorian brick houses with iron railings and gas lamps on the right. The road is unpaved and completely empty — a quiet, prosperous Edwardian street scene.
1940–1969A hand-tinted postcard captioned "Church End, Wollaston." The road junction at Church End looking towards the village centre, with a gas lamp at the island. The Cuckoo pub sign is visible in the middle distance. The large brick house on the right with iron railings and the slate-roofed building to the left frame a scene that remains largely recognisable today.
1900–1939A hand-tinted postcard captioned "The Schools, Wollaston." The Victorian red-brick school buildings line College Street, with St Mary's spire visible in the left background. Iron railings and a white-painted gate front the school grounds. The building survives today as Wollaston Primary School.
1900–1939A postcard view of College Street looking east, captioned "Wollaston. College St. K.3." A gas lamp stands at the junction, with ornate iron railings fronting the large corner house on the left. Several children and adults are visible in the street. The church spire is just visible in the middle distance through the trees.
1900–1939Cattle being driven along the lane with St Mary the Virgin's spire rising through the trees in the background. Captioned "Parish Church, Wollaston." A quintessential Edwardian rural scene that captures the village before the motor car changed everything.
1900–1939St Mary the Virgin seen from the road junction, with The Cuckoo public house (now the Kandan Indian Restaurant) on the right, its "Bottledale" sign clearly visible. Two children stand at the entrance. A lone figure walks towards the church gates. Captioned simply: "Wollaston Church."
1900–1939London Road looking north towards the High Street junction, early 20th century. The Gables can be seen on the right in the middle distance. Ironstone and brick terraces line both sides of the unpaved road; a figure stands near the junction. Caption reads simply: "Wollaston."
1900–1939The High Street looking south towards the junction with Thrift Street. The Boot pub is visible on the left, with ironstone and brick buildings lining both sides. A motor vehicle and several residents are visible in the street — a rare early photograph of everyday village life.
1970–1999Northamptonshire Heritage Collectors Cards No. 139, produced for Wollaston Post Office by Photographic Heritage, photographs by Gordon Flanagan. Four views: High Street looking north; High Street looking south; Hickmire; Church from Beacon Hill. The 0933 prefix dates the card to before the 1995 Wellingborough renumbering — c.late 1980s to early 1990s.
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We are actively seeking photographs of any era — streets, buildings, people, events, businesses, schools, churches or everyday village life. Originals can be scanned and returned. Digital copies are also welcome.
Modern Views
A selection of contemporary photographs capturing Wollaston as it looks today.
Bottom of the High Street
St Mary the Virgin — spire and clock tower
Church Lane
The Wollaston Village Sign
Awbery's Tea Rooms — The Courtyard
Hickmire — thatched cottage
St Michaels Lane
The Wollaston Thrift Shop, Council Street
The Fountain — Parish Council heritage plaque
