Shoes have been found concealed in buildings across the United Kingdom, and indeed Europe, from varying periods of time. Why were they there? What purpose did they have? This article examines the history of concealing shoes in the walls of buildings.
Shoes have been found in the floors, walls, and attics of European buildings since the 16th century, commonly in the . From dainty cottages in Tonge in , to Georgian homes in Norwich, to the remotest Shetland Islands and Isles of Scilly, this strange trend has spread across the British Isles and across history.
One of the earliest finds, from St John’s College in Oxford, has been dated to the 1540s. A shoe was even found hidden in the Winchester Cathedral choir stalls, which were installed in 1304. Yet there is still a mystery as to why this trend happened throughout human history. This article explores a few of the different theories and what they can tell us about the society of yesterday.
