51/181

A last, also known as a ‘hobbing foot’, is used by a boot or shoe maker as a model on which to make shoes to fit individual feet. This example was used in cottage homes for mending the family's boots to save on the cobbler's bill. This last was given to the donor by Amos Hall, a stone slatter in Winchcombe, Gloucestershire, and was repaired by George Greening, a master carpenter in Winchcombe.

1 last, or hobbing foot: metal; wood; fair condition

MERL 'Catalogue index' card – 'This last was given to Mr. Massingham by Mr. Amos Hall a stone slatter of Winchcomb [sic] (Glos.). // Lasts are used by cobblers as models on which to make shoes to fit to individual feet. They therefore possess a considerable number of lasts. They were also often used in cottage homes for mending the family’s boots to save on the cobbler’s bill, but this practice died out some time ago. This was the use to which this specimen was put. When Mr. Massingham obtained it, the wooden ‘leg’ to which the iron shoe is attached was missing, but it was replaced with another one by Mr. Greening of Winchcomb [sic]. The shoe is fixed to the ‘leg’ by the iron spike, and the bottom of the leg is bound with an iron ring to prevent the wood splitting. Nevertheless, in this case it has split considerably. // The iron shoe is 8.25 inches long and 3 inches at the widest point. The ‘leg’ is 27 inches long and 8 inches in circumference. // Another name for the last is HOBBING FOOT.’, MERL list / description [Massingham Collection, October 1989] – 'ACC. NO.: 51/181 // NAME: LAST (BOOT) // NEG NO.: 60/246 // STORAGE: '

Wood, Metal

Greening, George (Agent)