Concealed shoe

Made:
1750-1790 in unknown place
Women's shoe, late eighteenth century Women's shoe, late eighteenth century

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Women's shoe, late eighteenth century
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Women's shoe, late eighteenth century
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Women's shoe, late eighteenth century, found concealed in the roof space of Old Mill at Murrays' Mills, Ancoats during the archaeological survey of the site.

This women's shoe was likely deliberately hidden in the roof space of Murrays' Mills during its construction, following a folk-law belief that concealed shoes protected a building's occupiers from evil spirits and brought good luck. Murrays’ Mills is one of the oldest surviving steam-powered cotton spinning mill complexes. First established in Ancoats in 1797, it became, along with neighbouring McConnel and Kennedy mills, one of the largest industrial complexes of its time, reflecting Ancoats’ development into the first industrial suburb.

Details

Category:
Textile Industry
Object Number:
2018-42
Materials:
leather
type:
shoe
credit:
Gift of Manchester Life Development Company Limited