Hardy & Padmore - Carst iron makers Four Flags Sauce label Steward's Chemists - Finest Glycerine & Rosewater label
Stretton & Co. - Worcestershire Sauce label
 
Welcome to Worcester City Museums and Galleries
SPIRIT OF ENTERPRISE EXHIBITION - SHOE MAKING
 
Lea & Perrin's - Worcestershire Sauce label Waldron & Co. - Mandarin Sauce label Waldron & Co. - Worcestershire Sauce label
Hill, Evans & Co. - Malt Vinegar label
 
 
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The Commandery  
 
A pair of Ladies black leather lace up boots, with 'Oxford' style toe cap. c. 1900 - Click on image for a bigger picture. Worcester's Boot and Shoe Industry - While the glove trade was on the decline in Worcester, the shoe and boot trade was on the increase. In 1837 the Worcester trade directory listed 71 boot and shoemakers and sellers in Worcester.
One of the largest was run by Henry Willis whose company called Cinderella's was one of the first in Worcester to make clever use of a brand name to sell his products. This ensured that his products were easily identifiable. The firm built up a huge customer base all over Britain and even sold in the British colonies through the use of travelling salesmen. A pair of brown leather, knee high service boots for a lady despatch rider during the Second World War - Click on image for a bigger picture.
When Henry was joined in business by his brother James in 1860, they went on to build a purpose built factory in College Street. At the beginning of the 20th century, James took over at Henry's death and went on to employ more than 350 people.
Cinderella's works in Watery Lane, St John's 1926 - Click on image for a bigger picture. In 1914 the firm moved to Watery Lane in St John's however from then on the firms fortunes changed. Rapid changes in fashion and increased foreign competition meant that demand for their products decreased.
The firm was taken over by Great Universal Stores, and then in 1972 A & H Meltzer a London manufacturer. However it was liquidated in 1976. Slade's shoe shop in the High Street, Worcester 1960s - Click on image for a bigger picture.
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INDUSTRIES
Brewing
Engineering
Glove Making
Pottery Making
Shoe Making
Wine & Sauce Making
Introduction
COMPANIES
Cinderella 's
Britannia Brewery
Dent Allcroft & Co.
Courtney's
Four Flags
Fownes Gloves
Hardy & Padmore
Harper & Co.
Heenan & Froude
Hill, Evans and Co.
James Archdale and Co.
Joseland & Sons Larkworthy & Co.
Lewis Clarke & Co.
Lea and Perrins
McKenzie and Holland
Mellor & Co.
Metal Box
Mining Engineering Co.
Robert Allen & Co.
Royal Worcester Spreckley Brothers Ltd. Stretton and Co.
Waldren and Co.
Williamson & Sons
History of Worcester
Old Maps & Plans
Old Photographs & Paintings
Social History Collection
Gallery Plan