Upper part of Medieval leather shoe

Social History (Museum of St Albans)

Upper part of Medieval leather shoe. This comes from a pit on the site of The Maltings, which contained leather off-cuts, probably waste from a cobblers workshop. The holes for the stitching are clearly visible. Leather working was an important trade in medieval St Albans. French Row was originally known as “Cordwainers Row” i.e. Shoemakers Row. Medieval shoes were made inside out on a last, stitched along the seams and made without separate heels. This is known as the ‘turnshoe’ method.

PX4919.tif

Digital Camera

[not applicable].

27/06/2007