Image ID: 07898

John Mills & Sons shoe shop

Courtesy of Antoine

Bridge Street
Newark on Trent
England

The firm of John Mills & Sons was founded in 1858 by John Mills (1838 - 1922) who was a native of Peterborough. His first employment was as an agricultural labourer in Lincolnshire, although in his teenage years he removed with his family to Newark. Here his father, a basket-maker, quickly found work in the town's willow basket-making trade. Young John Mills was put to work in the boot repairing business of his uncle, Mr Hardy of Millgate, later becoming an apprentice in the shoe-making shop of Mr Brett in the Market Place. Further training followed with Mr Martin in Sheppard's Row in the town, and in Manchester. Following his return to Newark in 1858, John Mills went into business on his own account, first with premises on Northgate and with a stall on Newark Market. Thereafter he developed his trade with stall at other markets in the district at Grantham and Tuxford. Meanwhile, the introduction of new leather-working and manufacturing machinery from America were revolutionising the industry, and, taking advantage of these developments, Mr Mills moved his business from Northgate to Middlegate. Subsequent expansion saw the opening of a shop on Bridge Street, and in Southwell in Nottinghamshire and Bakewell in Derbyshire The shop was located on the corner of Bridge Street and Carter Gate and the picture taken from the junction of Balderton Gate with Carter Gate, looking north west. The picture also shows part of the Home & Colonial stores (left) and the Maypole Dairy (to the left of Mills' Shop).

Date: 1960

Organisation Reference: NCCE001704

Organisation: