Shoe

As well as telling us about changes in fashion, shoes can yield information about the health of the wearer's feet. This shoe dates from around 1350. It was probably worn by a poor person and the shoe is most-likely second-hand. It has been cut on the front and sides to alleviate the pressure on a foot deformed by both a 'hammer toe' and a bunion. The toes would have been bunched in a claw-like manner, whilst the bunion would have caused a large swelling on the side of the foot, below the big toe.

In some cases wear on the sole of the shoe indicates how the wearer walked, if they limped or were 'pigeon-toed' (with the feet pointing inwards). Many shoes found in London have been repaired and patched. This work was done by cobblers (new shoes were made by people called cordwainers). Others, like this one, were probably modified by the owner themselves.