Boot Manufacture

Shoe manufacture at Ivy Farm (previously Maudlin’s Farm)

Summary of known evidence by Clive Rodgers

The late Ken Reading, noted that in 1850 a considerable shoe manufacturing business  employing many  members of the Anstee  family and others besides,  existed in this  area.  Shoemakers are also known as “cordwainers”, and they appear on successive Swanbourne censuses.   The farmhouse  has  been separately developed in about  three stages over  the centuries and to all appearances was once in  separate occupation.

The location of the farm next to Boot End which follows from Duck end and the neighbouring 19th Century pub (now long closed) called The Boot could be linked to the shoe business here.

The  orchard  adjacent to Ivy Farm used to contain magnificent  walnut  trees until felled  in the  1950`s.

Ivy Farm (Smithfield End) is thought to be a site of shoe manufacture during the 18th/19th centuries. Many of the Anstee family are thought to have been cobblers here

James Harding – Shoe maker; this photograph was not at Ivy Farm

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