Also known as a Cordwainer, Cobbler or Snob.
The Shoemaker made his living generally from his own cottage, producing tough and practical footwear which although was not the most stylish in the world, was what the locals needed for their day to day life.
Cordwainers were a little more upmarket, and worked only with new leather. The name came from the French “Cordonnier”, meaning Shoemaker, which in itself was derived from Cordoba in Spain where the most wonderful and soft leather was produced. This was known as cordouan leather, so the roots of our name “Cordwainer” is obviouse.
Cobblers didn’t actually make shoes, but repaired them by recycling old leather from worn out shoes and boots.
Snob was first used in the 18th century, and is just another name for a Shoemaker, or his apprentice. These days of course if you call someone a snob it means something entirely different!
Shoemaker News from the Past
September 20th 1838
Mr. Robert Jones, Shoemaker, of the Post Office Much Marcle, Herefordshire made a plea for help in finding his runaway children:
“A boy aged 15 of thin make, dark brown hair and dark grey eyes, dressed in a smock frock, moleskin trousers and a hairy cap, left his home on 19th August taking with him a little sister named Mary aged 7 years, dressed in a red spotted frock, a blue spotted pinafore, a cambric bonnet, and quarter boots and has not since been heard of.”
Shoemaker Bankrupts
| J. Taylor | August 1817 | Shoemaker | Credenhill, Herefordshire |
| John Prosser Davies | June 1841 | Shoemaker | Huntington, Herefordshire |
| John Lewis | June 1841 | Shoemaker | Kingsland, Herefordshire |