Barker shoes - History
Arthur Barker, known affectionately by all the succeeding members of his family as Great Grandfather Barker, must have been a man of great resolve and tenacity of purpose. He began by working in a ‘shop’ (or workshop) situated at the bottom of the garden of a house in North Road, Earls Barton, UK.
In this year Arthur Barker founded the Company. As a hand-sewn man, he personally made footwear, sending a great part of the work out to home workers.
Arthur and sons moved ‘The Firm’ to a small factory in Station Road. The eldest son Charles became a leather importer. Ernest and Arthur Jr. worked to fulfil World War I army boot contracts.
The business developed to produce superior quality footwear. An export trade was established, which grew to such an extent that an astonishing 75% of Barkers’ output was exported to South Africa.
Arthur, the ‘Grand old Man’ and founder of Barker Shoes, died in this year.
Several workers from Earls Barton, ‘The Pioneers’, emigrated to South Africa to establish a new branch. Arthur Jr. ran the business with his son Roy until 1965.
After World War II, Barker Shoes expanded in Earls Barton. A new factory was built in Station Road for the making of ladies’ shoes. This enabled the older factory to concentrate on men’s footwear.
The third generation of Barkers, brothers Albert and Charles, joined ‘The Firm’. Albert became one of the world’s finest shoe designers. Charles steered the business until his early eighties.
Barker Shoes celebrated its 75th Anniversary.
The fourth generation joined the business. Following in the footsteps of his predecessors, William (Albert’s son), became a respected shoemaker and shoe designer in his own right.
Barker Shoes tradition continued in Earls Barton in an impressive modern factory, purpose-built in 1986.
Barker Shoes is owned by an international group who are committed to maintaining the brand integrity.
Barker Shoes have become much sought after by discerning customers. Both classic and casual styles are always in demand at prestigious stores around the world where the ‘English look’ is increasingly popular.
Barker Shoes will always maintain the very highest standards of shoemaking, as they have done for 135 years. (Source – Barker UK website 18 November 2021).
The South African history
The origins of Barker Footwear in South Africa can be traced back to 1933, when Ernest Barker, a member of the family that owned the A. Barker & Sons shoe manufacturing company, travelled from Earls Barton, England to the shores of Cape Town, South Africa to establish a new branch of their company. He was accompanied by a small group of craftsmen skilled in the art of shoe making. There, in the shadow of Table Mountain, he established Barker Footwear, a name that would become synonymous with quality and craftsmanship in footwear manufacturing.
Later that year he returned to England and was succeeded as Managing Director by his brother Arthur. In 1947 Barker amalgamated with one of its major customers, owned by Montague Chissick, to form Barker Chissick Footwear Ltd. At this stage Arthur's son, Roy, was appointed to the board. In 1955, following the retirement of his father, Roy was appointed Managing Director, a position he held until his return to the U.K. in 1956.
Thereafter followed various take-overs involving Barlows and S.A. Breweries and eventually Barker was sold to Shoe Corporation of Africa Ltd (an S.A. Breweries subsidiary) in 1969. Shoe Corporation of Africa Ltd later became S.A. Footwear which, in turn, was taken over by Conshu Ltd when S.A. Breweries merged with Conshu Holdings Ltd (Conshu)who was a major manufacturer of footwear with factories situated throughout South Africa, in 1987.
Conshu was organised regionally with the Barker being part of the Cape Region and was the company which both manufactured as well as distributed the Crockett & Jones South Africa brand (which it had previously acquired the rights for in 1952 under its former ownership).