Shoes have always been an important element of the wardrobe. If in the 21st century, it mainly emphasises our image, then in the past its main role was to provide comfort. The history of footwear development reflects not only the evolution of fashionable images and materials but also cultural, social and economic changes. In particular, clogs in 19th-century Manchester epitomised its industrial spirit. Learn more at manchesterka.com.
Historical origins of clogs in Manchester
We can surely say that clogs were purely footwear of an industrial region of Great Britain. The historical origins of this shoe model lead to the first half of the 19th century Lancashire. It was there that the first models of clogs for factory workers began to be made.
In particular, historians don’t have an exact explanation of how clogs fashion came to Manchester, but there are two theories.
According to the first version, clogs came from pattens (shoes with a wooden sole, which held the foot with special straps). Pattens were usually worn over leather or fabric shoes. Their main function was to prevent main footwear from getting dirty in the mud. However, not everyone could afford such shoes in those days, so people designed clogs.
According to another version, the historical origins of this shoe model go back to the Roman Empire times. British historians claim that the first references to clogs date back to those times.
Clogs became very popular in Great Britain, and especially in Manchester, during the Industrial Revolution, as workers needed durable and cheap footwear.
Who wore clogs in Manchester in the 19th century?
In 19th century Manchester, clogs were the footwear of the working class, as they were practical and comfortable. Clogs were worn by absolutely everyone – women, men and even children.
This shoe model had different variations. The most popular were with laces and with a fastener. Special clog irons, called calkers or cokers, were nailed on the toe and heel parts of the sole. They were usually ⅜-inch-wide and ¼-inch-thick. Between them was a groove, which protected the nail heads from wear.
The popularity of clogs in Manchester peaked in the 1840s and 1920s. Almost every resident of the city wore various models of these shoes.
Although clogs were the typical footwear of the working class, not all Manchester residents could afford them. This was especially true of children. Not every parent could fully provide everything necessary for their child, including shoes. Therefore, in the 19th century, the Charter St Ragged School in Angel Meadow lent clogs to children.
Such a pair of shoes was necessarily stamped with the inscription “CSRS loaned, not to be pawed”. Thus, the poor couldn’t pawn them.
Clogs materials and interesting facts
Many residents of 19th-century Manchester wore the Walkley Gibson-style clogs. Welsh and West Country alder, Scottish birch and Lincolnshire willow were used for the soles. Ordinary alder, birch and sycamore were also common.
The top of the clog was mainly made of leather. It was cut according to the sample or stamped. At that time, shoemakers created clogs of various types, for work on industrial facilities, agricultural land and even military ones.
One of the most interesting facts about clogs is that factory workers in Manchester invented a clog dance. In particular, workers of industrial enterprises in their free time entertained themselves by simultaneously tapping their feet, creating rhythmic sounds. It was clogging.
Clogs became not only popular footwear but also created a whole dance cult, which became a widespread pastime in 19th-century Manchester. At that time, the city even held competitions and professional clog dancers performed in music halls.
The clogs cult, traditional footwear of the industrial region
At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, clogs became an integral part of the wardrobe of every Manchester resident. These shoes were mainly designed to provide comfort during a shift at a factory or plant in Manchester. Women, men and children wore clogs for years and they didn’t wear out because they were of high quality and made of natural and durable materials.
Clogs have become more than just a historical shoe that was once worn in Manchester. It is a fashion trend of an industrial city and a personification of that era. By studying the fashion and style of past centuries, you can imagine what life was like for the average Manchester resident in the 19th century. In the 21st century, you can learn more about Manchester’s fashion history at the local textile gallery. The 19th-century clogs are certainly one of the highlights of the collection.