Bootmakers in Leicester, mid - late 1800s

[transparu]

I realise this is a bit of an ask.
I have a number of people in my family tree who were in one way or other engaged in the boot making industry in Leicester. A couple of them left Leicester for Australia in 1875 and in 1881.
Is there any possible source that might help find WHO these folk worked for? Any employer records?
I have looked unsuccessfully to date but may well be missing something.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

[CaroleW]

Do you mean who they worked for in both Leicester & Australia or just in one of those places.

[DCB]

There are some directories here but difficult to search - http://specialcollections.le.ac.uk/digital/collection/p15407coll9

Also a few references to Boot or Shoe Factories.

Leicestershire Mercury 02 January 1864
TO BE LET, BOOT and SHOE FACTORY, situate the Haymarket, Leicester; fitted up with Steam Engine, Gas, Shelving, &c,

Leicester Journal 11 May 1866
Mr. Scrimshire, Bootmaker, 46, Gallowtree-gate

Leicester Journal 12 April 1872
Valuable 3-Storey Shoe Factory, 50, Southgate-street, Leicester.

Leicester Journal 12 July 1872
VALUABLE FREEHOLD MESSUAGES, SHOE FACTORY, and LAND, CHESTER-STREET, BRUNSWICK-STREET, LEICESTER.

Leicester Journal 23 May 1873
 Large Boot and Shoe Warehouse and Factory, Marble-street, Newark-street, Leicester. TO SOLD BY AUCTION

Leicester Journal 15 May 1874
Very valuable Freehold Old-Licensed Inn, Shoe Factory, and Four Dwelling Houses, situate in the Holy Bones, Jewry Wall-street and Sycamore-lane,

David

[transparu]

Thanks Carol,
Just Leicester. I have pretty good information  about the Australian end.
David

[transparu]

Thank-you very much David.
I'm most grateful to have these possibilities.  I've been writing since Covid hit about family who were amongst pioneers in the industry in Melbourne. Australia. Apart from UK Census information,  I've had nothing on the UK. You offer some hope.
I appreciate it.
David

[goldie61]

This site may be of interest.
https://searchmyancestry.blogspot.com/2012_04_10_archive.html

Evidently the firm Freeman Hardy and Willis was founded in Leicester in 1875.

This site gives a lot of information about boot and shoe making in Leicester.
https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/leics/vol4/pp314-326

Have you tried searching the Leicester on-line catalogue, or contacting them?
They will surely have a lot of information about shoe and boot making in Leicester. One of the trades Leicester was known for.
http://www.recordoffice.org.uk/

[transparu]

Goldie,
Thanks for these pointers, I appreciate them. Wow, the first has a wealth of information indeed.
I have the details from the history of boot and shoe industry article in Leicester you pointed to and I am aware of the Records Office in Leicester. In 1980, when I was significantly less that half my present age I was living in Shepshed for a year and had the privilege and excitement of spending time in the Records Office and being able to see church and other records of my family. That resulted in a lot of my time being consumed since!!  I have not visited the site electronically in years and your prompt will see me doing to.

Thanks again.

David

[goldie61]

'Shepshed' in your post sprang out at me!
I have traced my cousin's ancestors to this area.
Their name was 'Shipside', (Sheepside; Sheephead, etc) , and they are thought to have come from Shepshed.
The first piece of evidence for them is a John born in 1621 in Gotham, just 9 miles north of Shepshed.
It would be good to and see the place, and to be able to visit the Leicestershire Record Office, but an impossibility at present, especially from the other side of the world!

Good luck!
 

[transparu]

'Shepshed' in your post sprang out at me!

Good luck!

Well, in 89/90 it was quiet little place where locals were simply AMAZED that I might drive to London on Monday (to shake hands with Charles, amongst other things!). A lot of people in those days had never left the village, a bit of an eye-opened for we Aussies.
Google maps/earth gives some good images of recent Shepshed.

All the best.
David