We welcomed the return of Michael and Francis Holmes to our meeting and we were informed enlightened and amused by their anecdotes and informative presentation on the history of the Boot and Shoe industry in Norwich.
The industry grew quite steadily during the 1800’s when the textile industry closed down and moved to the north of England. It had been a cottage Industry so those people who were now struggling for work turned their skills to making shoes. The first major industry was started by James Smith in St Peters Street Norwich and others soon followed. The progress of the trade increased considerably by the introduction of the sewing machine which was invented and introduced in 1856 making it quicker to produce a pair of shoes. By 1900 there were 6,000 people employed in making Ladies and Children’s shoes. Men’s shoes were made in Northampton. In 1937 there were 10,700 employed in the Boot and Shoe Industry. Prior to the WW2 the various companies agreed that if their factory was bombed out then they could take over a small section of another one. This did happen and the arrangement worked fine. Some companies received Royal Warrants (Startrite)and some were famous for making ballet shoes. In the 1970 most of the shoes being made were contracted out and imports became the in thing due to demand by fashion. Most of the companies which were in Norwich no longer exist.
No doubt you can recall several of the companies and premises where the Shoes were made. Sextons, Clarkes, Holmes, Van Dal, Bally’s, Pell amongst others but the most famous I suppose was ‘Startrite’ making the children’s shoes. Startrite still exist but are distributers not makers.
Barry Leggett