High St. From Library 2001

The building on the left of the picture was originally a bakery owned latterly by Mr. Alfred Dunkley who was in business there from circa 1925-1968. It is now a private house. The building on the immediate right was built in the early 1850s as the first post office in Irchester. It was under the control of Mr. Daniel Ward. In later years his nephew William Ward or Putty Ward lived in the house. He was a glazier, decorator, and plumber. He was also the last village crier and he died in 1932. His daughter Miss Alice Ward continued to live in the house until her death in 1966. She was a school teacher at Irchester Senior (or Junior) School from c1892-c1935. The Ward Memorial Window in the parish church was given with money left by Miss Ward to remember her father, Wiliam and his three brothers Albert (the village tailor), John Desborough (the second village postmaster) and Arthur (who died when he was very young and was a school teacher). The next building on the right was the home of St. John's Ambulance man Mr. Billy Warren and his wife Elsie. They were for over 40 years employed at Edward Parsons & Son's Ltd. The next building was built in 1899 as an out-door beerhouse for Mr. William Kemshead.