SHOE MUSEUM

When I first arrived at Northampton University and I took a stroll around campus I found the campus to be not much different than the campus of my home University, which is the University of the Fraser Valley. For all intensive purposes it was a pretty average school. I recognized the social sciences and humanity courses such as sociology and psychology and business. I also noticed that there was a good selection of science and math courses and as well as applied/professional courses such as tourism and early childhood eduction. What immediately struck me as odd was the program that was available which dedicated solely to the study of leather. I was left wondering, why on earth would a university this small have a program so specifically dedicated to the study of leather? An entire bachelors degree in science on the study of leather?


It was during a tour of Northampton town center, as we approached the Northampton Shoe Museum, that a member of staff from the University let me know that Northampton has had an interest in leather in for many decades. Therefore, the leather sciences program available at the university is evidence of, and a run-off- of Northampton's former legacy in dominating the leather tanning business within the UK as well as within the world.  Upon entering the shoe museum I was informed that one of the main attractions in Northampton is this wacky shoe museum. So what does Northampton's legacy as being a former leader in the production of leather have to do with this wacky shoe museum? The answer is leather.

So here is the story:

Historically as well as presently, many shoes are made of leather. Therefore, since Northampton was packed full of skilled workers who specialized in the tanning of leather, this meant that Northampton was the cite that many shoes were made! Northampton, not a large town neither presently, nor in the height of the leather shoe making era, housed eleven leather production factories. This meant that most of the residents worked in these factories producing none other than SHOES. Unfortunately as the leather production business evolved, new ways of tanning leather which was much more efficient and easier was developed in the United States and Germany. Also contributing to the decline of the booming leather and shoe industry in Northampton was, and continues to be, labor undercuts from factories in countries such as India. Although the leather tanning industry is not what it once was, the legacy of Northampton's great leather tanning skills lives on through the leather technology program at the University as well as the Northampton Shoe Museum!

History lovers note: Northampton Shoe Museum is a Must See... and not just for the shoes!!

Northampton Shoe Museum contains an intriguing collection of historic and present day shoes from all around the world. My favorite was the biggest shoe in the world which was created for an elephant! However this wacky museum carries a much larger significance for the people of Northampton than just housing outrageous shoes. The presence of Northampton shoe museum marks an important part of the diasporic history for both the U.K as a state, and more importantly Northampton as a town, by commemorating the large labor market which once flourished in Northampton surrounding the shoe and leather production business.