We live in a highly automated, clinical world. Many people have grown used
to products in a packaged state where each item is exactly the same. Walkley
Clogs are hand-made from 100% natural materials and our clog wearers
enjoy the unique character of each pair of clogs they own.
Walkey Clogs is proud to keep the old traditional styles and over the years has
manufactured many more styles that fit in with today’s markets.
Most years Walkley Clogs are seen on the cat walks, and every year work with
budding fashion designers who always have their own ideas on clog design.
Today Walkley clogs manufactures a wide range of styles of clogs which
include wooden sandals and slip-ons and various types of boots and shoes in a
good selection of colours. The uppers used are mainly leather but also a non
leather clog can be manufactured if required. The company also produces a
lovely range of children’s clogs styles and supplies clog dance teams in the UK
with dancing clogs. Walkley clogs produces 40 styles plus and offers to make up
custom made clogs in any style and any colour we have.
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History of Walkley Clogs
Walkley Clogs is a clog factory where the great British clog is manufactured in
its entirety.
The company was started by Frank Walkley in 1946. The main styles
manufactured at that time were the Safety boot clog, Derby, Gibson and the
Bar clog. With slipon styles being produced much later.
In 1978 Frank Walkley bought out the famous Maude clog sole works in
Hebden Bridge, a company that at its hey day had over 100 employees that
turned nothing but clog soles!
Walkey Clogs still uses the old machines for turning the wooden clog soles,
and manufacturing the irons. The clog making skills used are those skills that
have been passed down from generations of Walkley Clogs clog makers.
Many of our older clog customers will remember Gordon and Nelson real
lovely characters, and John who only recently retired a few years ago.. and
not forgetting Arthur who up to 86 years of age still worked making the
Walkley clogs for two days a week.
Maude clog sole workers
Nelson Rush clog
maker.
Other outlets for the company included the famous Lakeland Bear brand
teddy bears, all of the bears that were dressed in clogs was made by Walkley
Clogs. Members of the new model army pop group and consequently many of
their fans are also traditional clog wearers whom Walkley Clogs supplies.
A large percent of clogs today are still used for the industrial market. Large
companies such as Corus take regular supplies, as does heavy industries such
as glass works and foundries. In fact the company regularly supplies around a
hundred different industrial customers throughout the U.K . The requirements
are stringent, so all Walkley Clogs Industrial Clogs are tested up to the EN 345
standards. This gives the firm a strong marketing advantage, which has helped
it penetrate the Netherlands market: Dutch clogs do not meet the required
European standards.
The safety clogs are at least twice as strong as a normal safety boot, and are
designed to protect worker's toes and soles. They are made from locally-
sourced leather and, typically, beech wood. Different soling materials are
attached to the wood according to the environment in which the safety clogs
will be worn.
Traditional horseshoe shaped irons are still screwed onto the bottom of clogs,
but more often now a full rubber is glued and screwed onto the wood soles,
or the traditional shod is used.
Clogs of the traditional British design, a leather upper on a wooden sole have
actually been worn since at least Roman times. Some historians suggest their
origins may go back further still.
Walkley Clogs still use the traditional tools for clog making such as clog
hammers and lasting pincers which would have been used by all clog makers
for century’s, in towns and many villages through out the country.
Although usually associated with the folk of Lancashire and Yorkshire, clogs
were actually worn throughout the country, indeed around the world.
A pair of Walkley clogs
being used in the
foundry.