Prince Charles to visit Northamptonshire shoe factories

The Prince of Wales is to visit two Northamptonshire shoe factories - one marking its 190th anniversary and the other only 10 years old.

Prince Charles will visit the home county of shoemaking on Monday 28 January 2019 to mark 190 years of Tricker's in Northampton.

He will also visit Gaziano & Girling in Kettering which, in 2009, became the first shoe factory to open in Northamptonshire for more than one hundred years.

Established in 1829, Tricker’s Ltd. is one of the region’s oldest shoemakers and uses traditional methods and processes to create its products.

It has held a Royal Warrant from The Prince of Wales since 1989.

His Royal Highness will tour the factory and will meet apprentices and factory workers as they undertake the 260 manufacturing processes that make up each pair of shoes or boots.

Established in 2006, Gaziano & Girling Ltd. uses traditional handcrafting and manufacturing skills to create both bespoke and ready-to-wear shoes.

His Royal Highness will tour the factory floor and will view the different processes involved in creating a pair of shoes.

The Prince will also visit the factory’s bespoke room before signing a visitor’s book.

Northamptonshire is built on the shoemaking industry which dates back almost 900 years.

Many towns and villages in the county were, at one time, home to shoemakers, leather merchants, designers, tanneries and other related businesses.