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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Leicestershire => England => Leicestershire Resouces & Offers => Topic started by: Siely on Friday 24 January 25 17:20 GMT (UK)
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https://lavendonconnection.co/home/history/leicesters-march-through-lavendon-1905/.
Many people are familiar with the much more famous Jarrow march but the Leicester unemployed march of shoe/boot makers was before it. Key figures were Amos Sheriff (later Mayor of Leicester), Rev. Donaldson and George White.
500 Leicester bookmaking men took part and there are several web sites with articles about it.
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Is there a point to this post?
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Is there a point to this post?
Yes there is, a serious one. Hidden or lesser known history is a terrible waste to the family historian.
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I had ancestors in Leicester involved in boot making at around this time but I have never heard of the march. I used to write to my Great Grandpa who was about 15 at the time but he never mentioned it so I am happy that I saw your post.
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BecciB, that's great. My family history has been a difficult challenge so I know the value of bringing lesser known history to public view.
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My family were also employed in the shoe/boot making industry in Leicester, and I too had never heard of this. The names of the marchers would be interesting, if such a thing exists.
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The Story of Leicester site has a great description of the life of Amos Sheriff.
https://www.storyofleicester.info/civic-affairs/amos-sherriff/
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You have posted in Leicestershire Resources & Offers. It may be a good idea to ask the Mods to move it for you :)
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Still trying to confirm whether my FH was directly involved (we had at least one Leicester bootmaker in family).
The march had the strong support of Rev. Frederic Lewis Donaldson Born: Ladywood, Birmingham, September 14th 1860, died: 1953
Frederic Lewis Donaldson received his early education at Christ Church Cathedral School, Oxford, where he was a member of the Cathedral Choir. He later entered Merton
College, Oxford, to take Holy Orders
(from The Who's Who of Radical Leicester compiled by Ned Newitt )
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You Tube has a home-made documentary featuring lots of photographs which must have taken years to collect.
For those (like me) who like to combine a day's walking with history Leicester now has a number of heritage trails to explore (including the new Richard III centre).
Ramble for family history !
www.visitleicester.info
www.storyofleicester.info
www.kriii.com
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-leicestershire-65921683
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Two pioneers of Leicester bootmaking in the 1830s
Thomas Crick of Peacock Lane, known locally as the father of the industry. Another was J. Dilkes of Loseby Lane.
(British History Online)
It is depressing to think of the billions of pounds and thousands of jobs lost when shoe and bootmaking where allowed to decline. The amount of money made by other nations from trainers / sport footwear alone is eye-watering !