Northampton Shoe Factory Tours

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Northampton Shoe Factory Tours

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Our shoe factory tours take in the historical sites of the town’s rich shoe heritage.

See where Northampton’s shoe manufacturers worked and lived, and learn what their lives were like.

04/11/2026

It was great to catch up with Pip and the team at Jeyes Earls Barton yesterday.

First created in 1852 by Philadelphus Jeyes, Jeyes's Northamptonshire sauce was brought back to life in 2020 when the family re-discovered the original recipe.

Jeyes of Earls Barton's museum recalls the Victorian lives of Philadelphus and his brother John, the latter being the creator of the world famous disinfectant, Jeyes Fluid.

👠 The museum also has a section dedicated to our favourite thing... SHOES! It reveals the true life story behind film and musical sensation, Kinky Boots.

Based in Earls Barton, family-owned shoe factory W.J. Brooks was struggling financially. Owner Steve Pateman took the decision to pivot to glamour and fe**sh footwear for cross-dressers and the transgender community - a decision which later sparked the idea behind the movie!

🗺️ Jeyes is also involved in an exciting campaign to put Northamptonshire literally On The Map!

The Northamptonshire On The Map project is aiming to secure an official brown tourism sign on the M1 at Junction 15 to promote the county.

Want to know more... best head along to Earls Barton to check out this fantastic attraction!

03/11/2026

This is Ian, who donned a pair of Crockett & Jones shoes and headed down from Sheffield to join us on our most recent Northampton Shoe Tour.

Ian loves shoes from Northampton and really enjoyed learning more about the streets, factories and people who are part of our shoe heritage and history.

👞 Our Shoe Tours are currently undertaking a winter break, but we’ll be back from March.

To find out more, please comment below or email [email protected]

02/11/2026

I am raising money for Children in Need if you would like to take part in any of the walks please see comments for locations and times.

To donate please click in the link below ⬇️

https://www.justgiving.com/page/michelle-lewis-walkforchildreninneednn

We have this

01/11/2026

You’re never too far from a little bit of Northamptonshire!

Headed down to the Big Smoke today and what did I come across? Shoes 👞

And not just any shoes, Northamptonshire shoes in the form of Barker Shoes Ltd and Church's!

How good would it be to have shops like these in Northampton? 🧐

29/10/2026

Shoetown 2027… here we come! 👞

Super excited to attend the Shoetown 2027 stakeholder event at Northampton Museum & Art Gallery this evening.

Eight of the county’s most famous shoe and shoe accessory makers, in partnership with West Northamptonshire Council and a host of other heritage groups, are plotting how to use the power of shoes to transform Northampton… and you can colour us excited!

There’s so much more to come, but the starting point will be a special Shoetown event at the museum in May next year.

We can’t wait to see how our shoe tours can become a part of this incredible new project… watch this space!

28/10/2026

A big shout out to the The Adventure Geek Community for joining me on a shoe factory walking tour this month 👞 🥾

Lots of questions, shared stories, laughter and many steps all in a few hours.

A big thank you for coming on the tour ❤️

25/10/2026

Great news 👞

Church’s intends to move all its footwear production to the UK over the coming years, including models currently made in Italy. The plans would broaden its British manufacturing beyond the traditio…

25/10/2026

Happy Northamptonshire day ❤️

Also Happy St Crispin’s Day 👞

Saint Crispin's Day, or the Feast of Saint Crispin, falls on 25 October and is the feast day of the Christian saints Crispin and Crispinian, twins who were martyred c. 286. They are both the patron saints of cobblers, leather workers, tanners, saddlers and glove, lace and shoemakers.

Now when is Northampton going to have a shoe parade celebrating our history ? Just me thinking out loud 😂

23/10/2026

Address

High Street
Northamptonshire
NN46BZ

Website

https://stepforwardwithlewis.com/shoe-tours/

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