Northampton: Articles: Northampton's shoe factories and World War One

The heyday of the town and county’s boot and shoe-making industry arguably coincided with one of the darkest hours of recent British history, the onset of World War One.

During 1914-18 seventy per cent of all boots used by the British Army in World War One were manufactured in Northampton.

One company, Crockett and Jones, saw its output double during the conflict, with many women newly employed to help cope with demand.

Emma Baugh from BBC NEWS reports http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-26353846