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How the boots and shoes were made

Once the leather was in the factory it would be taken and sorted into various thicknesses because some bits of the shoes need thicker leather (the soles), and some parts need thinner, softer leather (the top of the shoe).

Once this was done, the clickers would cut out the pattern of the upper part of the shoe using the thinner leather. The early patterns were made of a very thick card with brass beads round the edge to protect it from their very sharp knives that cut the leather. It was the knife hitting the brass beads that made the clicking noise so gave the workers their name- "clickers".

This street sign can be found in Olney where the clickers used to have their workshops.

To find out more about how the boots and shoes are made click here