Summer Exhibition: Paths Taken

Discover the journeys that some shoes have taken to become part of the archive collection. Exceptional and every day stories.

Many visitors have been curious about the range of historic shoes and non-Clarks examples in the collection. Many delicate and sensitive examples can’t be on permanent display or don’t fit with the gallery narratives. So temporary exhibitions are a wonderful way to display these exquisite pieces sensitively and with the attention they deserve. The stories behind them are fascinating – and our summer exhibition Paths Taken 1 Aug to 13 Sept is our first Summer Exhibition – come and visit! the exhibition is exceptional!

Have you ever wondered how objects find their way into museums?  Shoemakers Museum’s summer exhibition explores a selection of curious shoes from the stored collection and the fascinating journeys that brought them into the Museum.

Every object tells a story. Some shoes found by archaeologists provide an immediate and relatable connection to our ancestors. Bearing the traces left by their wearer’s feet or their maker’s tools, they can be evidence of lives lived hundreds, even thousands, of years ago. Other pieces in the exhibition were purchased as holiday souvenirs and cultural curiosity, sometimes to be worn, sometimes just to be admired. We all have shoes that are hard to part with, our favourite shoes, ones kept as mementos and reminders of those we love and happy times. This exhibition also includes curious examples of the centuries-old practice of deliberately concealing objects – and particularly shoes – in the walls and floors of houses and buildings.

The exhibition runs 1 Aug to 13 September. It is well worth a visit. Plus on 19 August at 11am the curators behind the exhibition will be presenting an illustrated talk in the cafe – the stories are captivating. It really will be a unique opportunity to get close to the wonderful history in our archive – exploring the world through footwear and their stories.

Shoemaker Museum’s first summer exhibition is accompanied by six weeks of family-friendly summer holiday activities, leading up to a Big Day Out on 31 August to celebrate the Museum’s first birthday.

So bring your families, there is plenty for them to enjoy. Throughout the Summer holidays there will be activity trails through the galleries and activities to keep your little ones busy and creative. The theme is community and summer journaling, with additional fossils Thursdays, Thursday Mural Making and Outdoor Theatre to enjoy.

On 31 Aug Visitors can enjoy traditional family entertainment, live music, donkey rides, farm animals, bouncy castles, Punch and Judy, lawn games, and a Big Day Out picnic in the gardens.

Book the curators talk