Plans to honour Northampton's shoe heritage

Events will take place from September this year

Author: Trevor ThomasPublished 24th Apr 2024

Plans are taking shape for an exhibition honouring Northamptonshire's connection to the shoemaking industry.

It'll take place from September, in addition to permanent displays already on show.

The county town's historical connection goes back to the 1200s with the Shoemakers Guild laying down rules for bootmakers when it was established 200 years later. It's also noted Northampton's historical travel link with it being a convenient stop off point within reach of London, plus it being convenient for the processing of raw materials in the production process - leather from cattle, and water from the River Nene, to name just two factors.

Rebecca Shawcross is from Northampton Museum and Art Gallery and is involved in the planning which is underway:

"We're interested in people's personal connections to working in the shoe factories of Northamptonshire. It's fantastic to trace how the county and particularly Northampton has been influenced by the industry.

"It all opens on September 28th at the Museum and Art Gallery and I can promise that it'll be full of that community feel which the shoe industry has had."

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