Books & Articles

Books & Articles on Clogs & Clog Making

(English language titles only)

Amalgamated Society of Journeymen Cloggers, Rules, Oldham, 1915. Journeymen Cloggers were the employees of Master Cloggers, and their Amalgamated Society was equivalent to a trade union. Free download from the Internet Archive here.

Atkinson, Jeremy Clogs and Clogmaking, Aylesbury, 1984. Written by an active clog maker, who specialises in making clog soles the traditional way, with cloggers’ knives. Well-illustrated with black and white photographs, it includes a brief list of other clog makers.

Atkinson, Jeremy Clogs and Clogmaking, Botley, 2008. Republished by Shire Books, the 2008 edition no longer includes the list of other clog makers, but there is a list of museums to visit which have collections relevant to clog making.

Broomhead, Duncan, Clogmakers – A Directory, Manchester, March 1983. A directory of British clog makers identified as being active in the early 1980s, together with some no longer in the trade but who were known within recent memory. Useful illustrations of clog crimps (patterns in the leather uppers). Free download here.

Broomhead, Duncan, Clogmakers – A Directory, Manchester, May 1983. An updated edition of the directory with additional illustrations. Both editions are available free of charge as PDF documents. Free download from the Internet Archive here.

Broughton, Alderman Thomas, History of the Clog & Patten Trade, Accrington, c1899. Includes an essay by clogger James Butterworth of Manchester. Broughton’s booklet endorsed the Flemish weavers origins myth. It includes advertisements for businesses involved in the clog trade, including suppliers of clog blocks, leather, clasps, irons and tools.

Butterworth, Philip, Thomas Lamb, Master Clogger and George Childs, Journeyman Clogger: The Last Cloggers in Oldham, Part I, Tools and Trades History Society, 2022. The author interviewed Thomas Lamb in the mid-1960s. In this part he explains how clogs were made and includes illustrations of the tools used.

Butterworth, Philip, Thomas Lamb, Master Clogger and George Childs, Journeyman Clogger: The Last Cloggers in Oldham, Part II, Tools and Trades History Society, 2023. In this part the author looks at George Childs. It is illustrated with photographs of Childs making clogs, and has pictures of tools and different styles of clogs.

Butterworth, Philip, Thomas Lamb, Master Clogger and George Childs, Journeyman Clogger: The Last Cloggers in Oldham, Part III, Tools and Trades History Society, 2023. In this final part of the series the author presents more illustrations of clog styles, based on those included in the catalogue of Bolton’s Lion Clog Works.

Clog Publicity Association, Clogs, Hebden Bridge, 1950s. An illustrated booklet for use by cloggers to promote clog wearing. Shows the clog styles available from many cloggers, and suggests where they should be worn. No publication date, but approximately 1950s. Free download from the Internet Archive here.

Clyndes, Andrea, Sparking Clogs – A Brief History of Walkley Clogs, Todmorden, 1997. Illustrated with black and white photographs. The history of the Hebden Bridge clog sole works from John Maude, via Frank Walkley, to the new management of the 1990s.

Colne Valley Museum, The Clog Maker – An illustrated account of Clog Making in Yorkshire and Lancashire around 1900, Golcar, undated. Illustrations show how a clogger would carve clog soles and make a pair of clogs. Still available from the museum. Check opening times online or via Facebook.

de Boer-Olij, Tet, European Wooden Shoes – Their history and diversity, The Netherlands, 2002. Illustrated with colour and black and white photographs, and drawings, this hardback was published by a Dutch klompenmuseum. Wooden shoes from many European countries, including England, are discussed.

Dendermonde, Max and Scholten, Herman, Wooden Shoes of Holland, The Netherlands, undated. Illustrated with colour photographs and line drawings, this booklet shows the making of Dutch klompen by traditional and modern methods.

Dobson, Bob, Clattering Clogs, Blackpool, 1981. An informative and entertaining book, illustrated with black and white photographs. Includes lists of clog dance teachers and clog makers current at the time of publication.

Dobson, Bob, Concerning Clogs, Clapham (Yorkshire), 1979. A well-researched and illustrated history of clog making, which rejects the old myth that Lancashire clogs were inspired by wooden shoes worn by Flemish weavers.

Dobson, Bob, Concerning Clogs, Blackpool, 1993. An update to the 1979 edition, which includes lists of the cloggers trading in the early 1990s, clog dance teachers, and teams which performed in clogs, whether clog dancers, North West Morris dancers, or performers of other styles. A useful historical record.

Fallon, Sally and Lepp, Jane, The 1989 Clogmakers/Clogrepairers Directory, Cheshire, 1989. An updated version of the directory first compiled by Duncan Broomhead in 1983. By 1989 a number of cloggers listed by Broomhead in 1983 were no longer in business.

Grew, Francis and de Neergaard Margrethe, Shoes and Pattens, Woodbridge, 2006. First published in 1988, this includes black and white photographs and drawings of pattens, believed to be the forerunners of wooden soled clogs.

Hartley, Marie and Ingilby, Joan, Making Boots, Shoes & Clogs, Otley, 1997. Illustrated with old and contemporary black and white photographs of clog making, including the Nelsons of Settle, Yorkshire.

Jackson, Janet M., About Clogs and Wooden Shoes, Adlington (Lancashire), 2023. A comparison of different styles of clogs and wooden shoes from around the world, inspired by vendors’ inaccurate listings on auction websites. Free download from the Internet Archive here.

Jackson, Michael L., Clog Makers to the Stars, Adlington (Lancashire), 2021. The history of the clog-making Hallam family of Wigan, Lancashire, some of whom moved to London and produced clogs for the stars of the day. Free download from the Internet Archive here.

Jackson, Michael L., Lanky Yankees – Lancashire Clog Makers in Nineteenth Century United States, Adlington (Lancashire), 2021. A brief account of two Lancashire clog makers who were in business in the USA in the 1880s, including a report of a gory clog fight. Free download from the Internet Archive here.

Jackson, Michael L., Memories of the Turtons of Skelmersdale, Lancashire – Celebrated Clog Makers, Adlington (Lancashire), 2021. Memories of Bill, Yvonne, and Sandra Turton, probably the best-known clog makers in Lancashire in the late twentieth century. Illustrated with black and white photographs. Free download here.

Jackson, Michael L., The Aarons of Halifax – Boot, Shoe & Clog Makers, Adlington (Lancashire), 2022. The Aaron family of Halifax made boots and shoes for many years before adding wooden-soled clogs to their range. Free download from the Internet Archive here.

Jackson, Michael L., The Cleggs – A Lancashire Clog Making Dynasty, The Lancastrian, Friends of Real Lancashire, 2022. A short history of the Cleggs, who made clogs in several Lancashire towns and villages, Ireland, and possibly in Utah (United States of America.)

Jackson, Michael L., The Clog Making Cleggs of Lancashire’s Fylde, Adlington (Lancashire), 2022. The history of the Cleggs, nowadays best known for their former clog shops in Kirkham and Poulton-le-Fylde. They also traded as cloggers in other Fylde towns and villages, in other Lancashire towns, in Ireland, and perhaps in Utah (USA). Free download from from the Internet Archive here.

Jackson, Michael L., The Miniature Marvels of Edward Rushton – Oswaldtwistle Clog Maker, Adlington (Lancashire), 2021. A brief history of Oswaldtwistle clogger Edward Rushton, illustrated with colour photographs of miniature clogs he made and collected. Free download from the Internet Archive here.

Jenkins, J. Geraint, Clog Making (Woodworker magazine article), London, 1962. A short article explaining the use of cloggers’ knives to make clog soles. Illustrated with black and white photographs.

Lion Clog Works (Bolton) and Jackson, Michael L., Retail Clog Catalogue, Bolton 1920s. A catalogue of clogs made by the Lion Clog Works, together with a history of clog makers in Church bank, Bolton. Free download from the Internet Archive here.

Mickelborough, Jane, Clog Catalogue, Darwen (Lancashire), 1980s. A short document showing the styles of clogs made by former clogger in Darwen during the 1980s. Free download from the Internet Archive here.

Noorlander, H., Wooden shoes – their makers and their wearers, Arnhem, 1978. Illustrated with black and white photographs and drawings. Covers the history of wooden shoes in the Netherlands and other European countries, including England.

Sommerfield, Adolf, History of footwear with wooden soles, Berlin, 1940. A short illustrated history of pattens and clogs republished as a pamphlet by the Klompenmuseum in the Netherlands. In addition to European wooden shoes, footwear in Syria, Korea, and Japan is discussed.

Vigeon, Evelyn, Clogs or Wooden Soled Shoes, Journal of the Costume Society, 1977. Black and white photographs and drawings. An excellent history of the development of clogs in Britain. Vigeon rejects the myth that clogs were inspired by the wooden shoes of Flemish weavers.

Walkley, Frank, Clogs Were My Life, Lewes, 1998. Frank Walkley’s autobiography gives the history of his clog business into the 1980s, and gives an impression of the clog making trade at that time. Walkley is dismissive of ‘one man band’ rival clog makers.

Watts, John, Celebrated Clasps & Toe Plates, Cloggers’ & Shoemakers’ Tools and Accessories, Sheffield, c1920. A catalogue of the clasps, toe plates (‘tins’), and tools produced by a Sheffield manufacturer and sold to many cloggers throughout Britain. Free download from the Internet Archive here.

Williams, Launcelot, The Old Art of Clogging (Lancashire Life article), Manchester, 1953. A short article about the display of clogger’s tools in the Castle Museum, York, and an explanation of how clogs were made entirely by hand, largely a lost art by the 1950s.

Titles by year of publication

c1899 Broughton, Alderman Thomas, History of the Clog & Patten Trade, Accrington.

1915 Amalgamated Society of Journeymen Cloggers, Rules, Oldham.

c1920 Watts, John, Celebrated Clasps & Toe Plates, Cloggers’ & Shoemakers’ Tools and Accessories, Sheffield.

1940 Sommerfield, Adolf, History of footwear with wooden soles, Berlin.

1950s Clog Publicity Association, Clogs, Hebden Bridge.

1953 Williams, Launcelot, The Old Art of Clogging (Lancashire Life article), Manchester.

1962 Jenkins, J. Geraint, Clog Making (Woodworker magazine article), London.

1977 Vigeon, Evelyn, Clogs or Wooden Soled Shoes, Journal of the Costume Society.

1978 Noorlander, H., Wooden shoes – their makers and their wearers, Arnhem.

1979 Dobson, Bob, Concerning Clogs, Clapham (Yorkshire).

1980s Mickelborough, Jane, Clog Catalogue, Darwen (Lancashire).

1981 Dobson, Bob, Clattering Clogs, Blackpool.

1983 Broomhead, Duncan, Clogmakers – A Directory, Manchester.

1984 Atkinson, Jeremy Clogs and Clogmaking, Aylesbury.

1989 Fallon, Sally and Lepp, Jane, The 1989 Clogmakers/Clogrepairers Directory, Cheshire.

1993 Dobson, Bob, Concerning Clogs, Blackpool.

1997 Clyndes, Andrea, Sparking Clogs – A Brief History of Walkley Clogs, Todmorden.

1997 Hartley, Marie and Ingilby, Joan, Making Boots, Shoes & Clogs, Otley.

1998 Walkley, Frank, Clogs Were My Life, Lewes.

2002 de Boer, Tet, European Wooden Shoes – Their history and diversity, The Netherlands.

2006 Grew, Francis and de Neergaard Margrethe, Shoes and Pattens, Woodbridge.

2008 Atkinson, Jeremy, Clogs and Clogmaking, Botley.

2021 Jackson, Michael L., Memories of the Turtons of Skelmersdale, Lancashire – Celebrated Clog Makers, Adlington (Lancashire).

2021 Jackson, Michael L., Clog Makers to the Stars, Adlington (Lancashire).

2021 Jackson, Michael L., Lanky Yankees, Adlington (Lancashire).

2021 Jackson, Michael L., The Miniature Marvels of Edward Rushton – Oswaldtwistle Clog Maker, Adlington (Lancashire).

2022 Jackson, Michael L., The Clog Making Cleggs of Lancashire’s Fylde, Adlington (Lancashire).

2022 Jackson, Michael L., The Cleggs – A Lancashire Clog Making Dynasty, The Lancastrian, Friends of Real Lancashire.

2022 Jackson, Michael L., The Aarons of Halifax – Boot, Shoe & Clog Makers, Adlington (Lancashire).

2022 Butterworth, Philip, Thomas Lamb, Master Clogger and George Childs, Journeyman Clogger: The Last Cloggers in Oldham, Part I, Tools and Trades History Society.

2023 Butterworth, Philip, Thomas Lamb, Master Clogger and George Childs, Journeyman Clogger: The Last Cloggers in Oldham, Part II, Tools and Trades History Society.

2023 Butterworth, Philip, Thomas Lamb, Master Clogger and George Childs, Journeyman Clogger: The Last Cloggers in Oldham, Part III, Tools and Trades History Society.

2023 Jackson, Janet M., About Clogs and Wooden Shoes, Adlington (Lancashire).

Undated

Colne Valley Museum, The Clog Maker, Golcar, possibly 1990s.

Dendermonde, Max and Scholten, Herman, Wooden Shoes of Holland, The Netherlands.

Availability of free PDF editions

A number of the publications are either out of copyright, or their authors have given permission for them to be distributed as free PDFs. Such titles plus those written by Michael L. Jackson have been uploaded to the Internet Archive and are available for reading online or as free downloads. Some titles have also been made available in Facebook groups, but only for downloading by group members.

Additional information about clogs, pattens, and wooden shoes may be found on the following Facebook pages:

Clogs & Pattens of Britain & Ireland

World Clogs & Wooden Shoes

Ceramic Clogs & Wooden Shoes

Links to Google Photos albums of photographs of clogs, pattens, wooden shoes, tools, postcards, souvenirs, etc. may be found on the following Pinterest boards created by Michael L. Jackson:

UK Clogs

Pattens & Patten Rings

Clasp Clogs

Boot Clogs (all styles)

Boot Clogs (lace-up)

Boot Clogs (flap & buckle)

Baltic Clogs (1, 2 or 3 buckle versions)

Over-Clogs

One-bar Clogs (buttons & buckles)

Shoe Clogs (with laces)

Shoe Clogs (with buckles)

Fancy / Dandy Clogs