And this gallery of photographs from the Chronicle & Echo’s archives offer a small, but fascinating insight, into the people who helped to put Northampton on the world map for shoemaking.
All the photographs are from our collection of glass plate negatives. Some of the captions are very brief and without detail, if you have information about any of the pictures featured, please email [email protected]

25. Looking Back Shoemaker Special
Albert Martin retires. Shoe boxes are labelled "Randall", January 1, 1959 Photo: Chron

26. Looking Back Shoemaker Special
European shoe directors at Technical College, September 30, 1958 Photo: no

27. Chron
Mobbs Miller shoe designs, Cock Hotel, Kingsthorpe, Northampton, October 26, 1967 Photo: -

28. Looking Back Shoemaker Special
Rat Island in Northampton, picture taken in 1971 before shoe factory and streets demolished to make way for Northampton House and Grosvenor Centre Photo: Chron

