No. 1 on our Tour 2: the “outliers” shoe factory shops in outlying villages – Barkers

• My map of the 3 factory shops close together in Earls Barton and Woolaston. Set your sat nav to junction 15 of the M1, (NOT junction 15A which you arrive at first from my premises in Rugby), take the A45, direction Wellingborough - then reset it to Barkers NN6 0NT in the first lay by. That way you can avoid letting your satnav take you on a wild goose chase all round Northampton. (It happened to me when I visited Barkers.) At the roundabout follow the first sign which just says “Northampton” then follow signs for Wellingborough.
• This map shows the 3 factory shops plus Joseph Cheaney in Desborough to make 4 outlier factory shops in total.
• Barkers 12 minute Video
• Click here to see how Barker shoes are made:
• Barkers style and prices Barkers have all the usual Northampton styles: loafers, brogues, oxfords, chelsea boots etc etc. They have some country brogues, (thicker, grained leather) but I can find no mention of Veldtshoen construction which Cheaney for example use in some of their country brogues and boots. Prices are generally in line with other factory shops although you will find some real bargains if you look. About £120 to £180 for seconds and a bit more for perfect but discontinued. (See the end of range shoes at the start of my video). Barkers have a huge range from conservative and understated to flamboyantly extrovert and this is reflected in the fact that my video is much longer than for other factory shops. There is no real house style apart perhaps from “eclectic”.
• Ladies shoes and boots Barkers have a really huge range of ladies shoes and some of them are gorgeous! See from 2.28 in my video. Brightly coloured, also pastel, also 2 tone and 3 tone (!), high quality brogues and oxfords. Check out the lilac suede brogue and loafer in 3.26. Yum! Racks upon racks of ladies shoes until 6.32. Including thigh high boots and also sandal styles. (I suspect that some of the cemented construction shoes like the sandals are bought in.) If you want high quality Ladies shoes, make a beeline for Barkers.
• Loafer or Moccasins? Another thing that Barkers stands out for is their moccasins which I have not seen elsewhere. Whoever did their website though has put loafers in the “moccasin” section and proper moccasins in their “casual” section. So just to clear things up, here are their moccasins and here are the loafers When does a loafer become a moccasin become a boat shoe I wonder? (Mocassins at 7.41 in my video).
• Dainite soles Like all of the factory shops now, some of their shoes, particularly country brogues, have dainite rubber soles, although they still have the Goodyear welted construction. Be careful though because there are some dress shoes with cemented construction and rubber heels and soles. These may not last as long and you can't get them refurbished, so if you go for cemented construction, you should expect to get them at a lot cheaper price. On Goodyear welted construction you will see a line of sewing all round the outside of the uppers on the top part of the sole. You won't see this in cemented construction.
• Refurbishment service. Like all the factories, Barker offer a refurbishment service : old soles and heels removed and new ones sewn on with the original, factory last in the shoe. Barkers are magpies with their designs. In general, the other factories have a fairly distinct identity and tend to specialize in one particular style. Barkers do every style and design you can think of.
• Don't buy anything yet! Take a shot of the contenders on your smartphone and make a note of the prices. Don't buy anything until you have visited NPS and the “Doc shop” (Dr. Marten's) as well, both just around the corner in Woolaston. It will only take you exactly 9 minutes, according to google maps to come back if Barkers wins.
• Barkers Station Rd, Earls Barton, Northampton NN6 0NT
• Own website
• Barkers on google maps 13 photos, 47 reviews
• Leigh Farrow (on google maps) says: “...One of the largest shoe factory outlets in Northants. Excellent selection of quality handmade shoes well worth a visit average 50% off retail. Recommend to all shoe lovers...”
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