The excavations at Chancery lane produced a total of 15 Brogues and 15 Shoes in both children’s and adult sizes and some of these have featured in previous posts. In all there were 6 children’s brogues and 9 adult brogues, as well as 4 children’s shoes and 11 adult shoes, in reasonably intact condition.  One of the finds is particularly important as it combines construction elements of both the Brogue and the Shoe and can be considered as a hybrid. It suggests that both the brogue makers and the shoemakers were aware of each other’s methods of working and at least one of them attempted to combine the two traditions.

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Photo 1 shoes the remaining parts of the hybrid shoe. The vamp toe area is missing but the narrow tongue at the instep is clearly visible, as are the 2 side seams. We can also see the right and left quarters with the heel seam stitch holes. The sole has almost completely disintegrated but lengths of the sole seam are still intact and stitched with thong.

Photo 2 shows a close up of the inside of the sole seam with the characteristic thong stitching of the brogue passing from side to side.

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Photo 3 shows the outside view of the same seam. The broad rand folds under the sole and the thong can be seen in the gap between the sole and rand where the seam has opened slightly.

Photo 4 shows a close-up of the inside of the heel seam with the right quarter still attached to the sole seam. A heel stiffener was added to protect the heel seam and was roughly secured with a length of thong.

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Photo 5 shows a close-up of the heel stiffener with its thong stitching.

Photo 6 shows the underside of the heel. The sole has disappeared completely however, the broad rand is still in situ. The serpentine S pattern of the thong stitching at the sole seam is visible.

It would appear this particular Shoe/Brogue was assembled as a turnshoe and used the stitching and thronging of the Brogue tradition to assemble what would have resembled a Shoe. The characteristic one-piece backpart of the Brogue, being replaced by the more fashionable right and left quarters.