Monument record 953/11/1 - William Saunder's 'American Factory', Market Place

The 'American' shoe factory of William Sanders was built circa 1880 and demolished in the 1950s, stood on the north side of the Market Place at its western end. Sanders had travelled in America in the mid 19th century, and his experiences there are said to have influenced the organisation of this factory. A photograph of the building taken shortly before demolition shows a three-storeyed brick structure of perhaps seven pier and panel bays, the central bay (incorporating the entrance and a second floor taking-in doorway) projecting slightly beneath a flat-topped gable. A yard entrance was positioned at the eastern end. Each bay had a pair of segmental headed iron-framed windows. Demolished in the 1950s.

{1} William Saunder's 'American Factory' was erected on Market Place. Saunders was responsible for a great deal of innovation in boot and shoe making including establishing travelling repair shops providing a 'while you wait' service, providing a pair of half soles with every pair of boots made and being awarded a medal for his 'Electric Ped' boots which were intended to banish malformation caused by badly designed footware. The site is now occupied by Costcutter Supermarket, however a large three storey brick building which would have been adjacent to the factory is still standing. Possibly anciallary industrial building or warehouse facility.

{3} History:
1874 William Saunders takes over Eyre Bros and Howe's shoe factory
1877 William Saunders, boot and shoe mfr; no address (Kelly's)
1884 Factory, terrace and workshop shown (OS 1:2500, 36.8)
1890 William Saunders, boot and shoe mfr, Market Place (Kelly's)
1899 Unaltered since 1884 (OS 1:2500)
1906 As 1890 (Kelly's)
c.1952 (Factory demolished)William Saunders' 'American' shoe factory, demolished in the 1950s, stood on the north side of the Market Place at its western end, where it runs into King Street. Sanders had travelled in America in the mid-19th century, and his experiences there are said to have influenced the organisation of his factory. A photo of the building taken shortly before demolition shows a three-storeyed brick structure of perhaps seven pier-and-panel bays, the central bay (incorporating the entrance and a second-floor taking-in doorway) projecting slightly beneath a flat-topped gable. A yard entrance was positioned at the eastern end. Each bay had a pair of segmental-headed, iron-framed windows per floor.

<1> BALLINGER J., 1999, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Long Buckby (Industrial), (part checked) (Digital archive). SNN100506.

<2> Foard G.; Ballinger J., 2000, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Long Buckby, (unchecked) (Report). SNN101574.

<3> ENGLISH HERITAGE, 2000, Northamptonshire Boot and Shoe Survey, Long Buckby site 7 (checked) (Catalogue). SNN105075.

<4> Northamptonshire Industrial Archaeology Group, 1996-2013, Northamptonshire Industrial Archaeology Group Newsletter, Issue 112 p.7 (unchecked) (Newsletter). SNN55360.

<5> Historic England, Undated, 2-4 Sanders Terrace and American Factory (demolished), Long Buckby, BF103869 (Archive). SNN115724.

Record last edited

Dec 1 2023 3:26PM