Northantz_Urbex
Well-known member
Right so this is my 1st post to this site and im going to share with you this 1800's shoe factory that is not too many miles away from where i am based. This factory started off life as a Benjamin Riley shoe factory in which it the oldest shoe factory in Northamptonshire opening in 1868 when Benjamin Riley came to Northants from Coventry in hope of expanding his business of corset and hosiery in the county. Whilst he was here he then see the shoe and boot industry was thriving and had a plan to modify his machinery to cope with the shoe industry and started making shoes & boots. One famous person who was a manager here before setting up his own massive shoe company in which is still trading today was Joseph Cheaney who left here and set up is own business in the same town. Rileys traded on till 1937 in which it was sold to R.S.Lawrence and was made in to R.S. Lawrence shoe and boot Co. whilst in the hands of Lawrences they expanded the factory to triple its original size as the she and boot industry was getting bigger and bigger around the 2nd world war making boots for the army. As the years went on and importing goods was becoming cheaper to do than actually make them in the UK the company slowly got smaller until it finally came to a close in the mid to late 90s. Over the years since closure its been subject to 2 arson attacks, metal thieves and childish vandalism also the newer parts of the building were demolished leaving the listed building standing also i must add the factory and land comes with four 1700's cottages (3 of which are derelict) Tesco have been trying to get planning permission since 2008 but has been refused as they want to knock down all the listed buildings and build a superstore there.
Thanks for looking Northantz Urbex
Thanks for looking Northantz Urbex