The History of Northamptonshire Leather

Leather is the only industry present in every country in the world. As a by-product of the meat industry, man has been using and wearing leather since he began to hunt. Ancient civilisations developed the ability to make leather independently of each other. Pieces of leather have been found in Egyptian tombs dating from 1300BC.

Northamptonshire has a very long connection with the production of leather and leathergoods. This was due not only to our proximity to water and a plentiful supply of oak bark (both required for tanning in the early days), but the county’s location on the primary north, south, east, west trading routes through the UK. Until the later middle ages, Northampton was the second city of England which meant that many influential people of the time passed through Northampton either on their way to the castle or to one of the great houses nearby. This created a demand for good quality leathergoods in addition to the usual requirement for shoes, vessels, clothing and travel goods.

One of the earliest references to the production of footwear is a record from 1200 of a street of cordwainers in Northampton.

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