We work with shoemakers in Northamptonshire to create the finest English leather shoes. The Northamptonshire countryside has three important ingredients for shoemaking: lush fields for grazing cattle, oak bark and charcoal for tanning leather, and plenty of good clean water for washing hides. Northamptonshire is internationally renowned for its magnificent Made in England men’s shoes, with a history that dates all the way back to the 15th century.
The biggest shoemaking town in this county is Northampton. Early shoemakers there passed down their skills through the generations, teaching their children creative techniques and inspiring them with a passion for the art of shoemaking. By 1650, the shoemaking industry was well established there, and over the next three centuries, the town became the largest producer of English-made leather shoes and the benchmark for other manufacturers.
Today, Northamptonshire shoemakers have embraced machinery. Most men’s shoes are made in factories, but many of the shoemaking tasks are still performed by hand. The Northampton tradition of craftsmanship continues into the 21st century, and our suppliers employ shoemakers who have worked in the shoe industry for generations. This means that over 100 years of knowledge, skill and pride goes into every pair of Charles Tyrwhitt leather shoes.