Cobblers / shoemenders shops in working class London in the early 1900s

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Shops where shoes were mended were always called 'snobs' when I was a child in the early 1900s. I don't know why, but everyone did it, although the term 'cobbler' became more common as I grew older.

A cobbler, also known as a 'snob' or a shoe-mender in the early 1900s mending a boot.

A 'snob' or cobbler in the early 1900s mending a boot.

Adapted from a sketch provided by Rosemary Hampton from her book: A Jersey Family: from Vikings to Victorians, Hampton, published by Channel Islands Family History Society and available from Amazon.

The snobs in Silver Street, Edmonton was owned by a family called Westbrook: a husband and wife who had two daughters. There was also an old gentleman who I thought was the grandfather.

Most of the work was done by hand. Although there was a machine in the middle of the shop, it was only used to finish repairs off, once the boots or shoes had been soled and heeled. Mrs Westbrook helped in the shop, taking the money and giving out the receipts and tickets. She was very pleasant but her husband was a man of few words. Granddad would sit in the shop with a cape round his shoulders and a hobbing foot between his legs doing some of the repair work. [A hobbing foot was a piece of metal shaped like a shoe which supported a shoe while it was being mended.] To me, it seemed amazing how he would put a number of tacks into his mouth and then take them out one by one as he needed them for hammering them into the leather. I was sure he would injure himself, but he never seemed to. His eyes had that screwed up look that people seem to get when they have to concentrate on handwork.

If you have an old photo which illustrates the way of life that my mother describes, I would very much appreciate a copy. Pat Cryer

The 1911 census shows that my mother's memory was absolutely right: Edward Westbrook, 29, was a bootmaker, born in London, who lived at 103 Silver Street (presumably over his shop) with his wife Rose, 28, born in Islington and daughters Jenny, 4, and Rose,1, both born in Edmonton. Furthermore, Edward’s father-in-law lived with them. He was a widower, 62, a boot repairer, born in nearby Southgate. Pat Cryer

A cobbler's shop in early 1900s Edmonton, north London

This website Join me in the 1900s is also known as Join me in the 1900's and is © Pat Cryer.