Catalogue description Records of Toy Town Shoes Ltd., Leicester: 1896-1970

This record is held by Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland, Record Office for

Details of 6D70
Reference: 6D70
Title: Records of Toy Town Shoes Ltd., Leicester: 1896-1970
Date: 1896 - 1970
Held by: Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland, Record Office for, not available at The National Archives
Language: English
Creator:

Toy Town Shoes Ltd, manufacturers, Leicester
Physical description: 180 Files
Immediate source of acquisition:

Deposited by: Company Secretary, April 1970
Subjects:
  • Leicester Self-Help Boot and Shoe Manufacturing Society Ltd, Leicester
  • Leicester Self-Help Co-operative Shoe Manufacturers Ltd, Leicester
  • Manufacturing industry
Administrative / biographical background:

The 'Leicester "Self-Help" Boot and Shoe Manufacturing Society Limited' was founded as a workers co-operative in 1895 as a result of a strike in the boot and shoe industry.

 

A factory was opened at the back of a hotel in Willow Street, Leicester with a small amount of capital put forward by Mr. Harry Page, Mr. Israel Beck and others.

 

In 1898 a second factory was opened in Gower Street, Leicester and then in 1901 the works moved to Dartford Road, Leicester into a new factory built by Messrs Hewitt and Sons.

 

In 1934 the Society's name was changed to 'Leicester "Self-Help" Co-operative Shoe Manufacturers Limited' and in 1954 to 'Toy Town Shoes Limited'.

 

The Company went into liquidation in March 1970. This collection is particularly interesting as an example of the running of a worker's co-operative.
Link to NRA Record:

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