Genealogy Chat

Alot of my family were in the shoe making trade during the 1800s. Some were boot closers, some were shoe clickers. They lived in the area of Duston and I'd like to find out more about their lives. Can anybody direct me to a list of factories in that area, at that time please? Does anybody know what records may have been held ald how I go about finding those? Thanks in advance.

Have you tried Googling? Not forgetting that, if you want Google to treat a multi-word item (like a name) as a single one, then you need to put inverted commas around the components e.g.: ''Christine Cocks'' Christine

I can't seem to find anything specific.

What about trying the central museum in Northampton ? It's in Guildhall Road - I believe they have a large section on the shoe industry. I'm sure the curator there would be able to offer sound advice. Jay

I don't know any off the top of my head but I live in Northamptonshire. If you contact me I will try and see what I can find out for you next time I'm at the library. I have a couple of Northampton books at home too - just had a quick look in one - quite a lot to read but it seems people worked in sheds in their back gardens until factories took over. There were many in Northampton and they could have travelled from Duston to Manfields, Cove and West, True-Form, Barratts, Stricklands and I also found a Collier factory in Harlestone Road but I don't know exactly where on the Harlestone Road but it does goes from Northampton Town to Duston - there is a book 'A short history of the firm of Simon Collier Ltd' published about 1916. Hope this helps. Do get in touch as I may be able to help with local knowledge.

karen website for Northampton museum www.northampton.gov.uk/museums

I know Church & Co Footware Ltd have been in business for well over 100 years, they are still in Northampton, might have someone there who knows the factory location for the time you are looking. JoJo

churches shoe have been in northampton for ever! I cannot imagine where in Duston - as it is now- there was a shoe factory. there were so many in the town - i live there now * want any photo's of where the lived in Duston - most of the old village is still there Jess

Thankyou for all your help. Jess and Josephine, I have sent you a message. :)

Mmmm Churchs shoes, they are class!

Have had a look at the road you named - wouldnt have described in as in Duston- it is in what we now call st James ....and if full of Flats,one block called Alma house ... save a FEW old houses down one side. Possibly was in Duston Parish years ago. Duston its self was quite a pretty village. There would have been numerous shoe making places in that area. Shame- would have loved to have taken photos of your ancestors home for you Jess

Thankyou Jess for having a look. Unfortunately it seems the way it is now. I've just been to visit another birth place of my ancestors - and that's now an old people's home. Managed to take a couple of photos of a few surviving walls with the date 1884 on them. Nevermind I'll keep searching - I'm not giving up yet!

I notice in the reply from Jess that the address is near St James, I think you will find that Church shoes are there, also Loakes shoes have been around for ages. JoJo

jojo. they are now, they haven't always been. They also had a bigger factory in the middle of town, Mounts area. ((are you local to the area? somewhere near the Charles Bradlaugh Pub)

dont want to make you weep but.. 1881 census Unknown Large Boot & Shoe Factory Last Building East Side UNINHABITED, Northampton Priory St Andrew, Northamptonshire, England View Record abt 0 Unknown Shoe Factory UNINHABITED, Northampton Priory St Andrew, Northamptonshire, England View Record abt 0 Unknown 62 St Edmunds St Shoe Factory UNINHABITED, Northampton Priory St Andrew, Northamptonshire, England View Record abt 0 Unknown 1 Victoria Rd (Shoe Factory) UNINHABITED, Northampton St Giles, Northamptonshire, England View Record abt 0 Unknown Factory UNINHABITED, Northampton St Giles, Northamptonshire, England View Record abt 0 Unknown Shoe Factory UNINHABITED, Northampton St Giles, Northamptonshire, England View Record abt 0 Unknown Harrold St Shoe Factory UNINHABITED, Northampton St Giles, Northamptonshire, England View Record abt 0 Unknown 29 Shoe Factory UNINHABITED, Northampton St Giles, Northamptonshire, England View Record abt 0 Unknown Shoe Factory UNINHABITED, Northampton St Giles, Northamptonshire, England View Record abt 0 Unknown 38 & 36 Portland Street Shoe Factory UNINHABITED, Northampton St Giles, Northamptonshire, England View Record abt 0 Unknown Westcott Bros Shoe Factory UNINHABITED, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northamptonshire, England View Record abt 0 Unknown Marshalls Shoe Factory UNINHABITED, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northamptonshire, England View Record abt 0 Unknown Williams Leather Factory UNINHABITED, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northamptonshire, England View Record abt 0 Unknown Mc Donalds Shoe Factory UNINHABITED, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northamptonshire, England View Record abt 0 Unknown 82 84 & 86 Newland Used As Shoe Factory UNINHABITED (3 HOUSES), Northampton St Sepulchre, Northamptonshire, England View Record abt 0 Unknown 3 Albert Street Shoe Factory UNINHABITED, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northamptonshire, England View Record abt 0 Unknown 1 Albert Street Shoe Factory UNINHABITED, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northamptonshire, England View Record abt 0 Unknown 3 5 7 Shoe Factory UNINHABITED, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northamptonshire, England View Record abt 0 Unknown Shoe Factory UNINHABITED, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northamptonshire, England Large Boot & Shoe Factory Last Building East Side UNINHABITED, Northampton Priory St Andrew, Northamptonshire, England

Jess, my daughter lives in Geddington so am over that way 2-3 times a week, like the shopping better than Leicester. JoJo

Crikey, I knew we had a lot of boot & shoe here - just didn't realise how many! http://www(.)historicaldirectories(.)org Find by keywords I selected Northampton, 1850's, key word 'Shoe' There are 2 1/2 pages of names with location/street!!! (remember to chose 'Next hit' to see the search results found. 'next image' takes you to the next page in the book) Elly

I suspected there would be alot, but never that many. What can I do now? I would really love to know more about their lives. Am just a bit overwhelmed now.

sorry ! I saw 'churchs' kept being mentioned and didnt want you you think to think it was the only one! It isnt the only survng one either (not quite there are a couple more!) Jess

Not at all Jess, it's been a great help. Now I'll just focus on what was involved in being a shoe maker. With there being so many, surely there must be accounts of life as a shoe maker - it's just finding them. I expect it was a pretty monotanous job and I have this image in my head of them all sat round a table in the main room closing boots!