British heritage brand, Grenson has been making highly durable, premium footwear since 1866. With decades worth of experience under their belt, Grenson has gained a reputation for exceptional British craftsmanship and for being an innovator in footwear design.
From a loft above the Corn Merchants in Rushden, Northamptonshire, William Green started his shoemaking journey. After successfully handcrafting shoes for many years, and with the onset of textile machinery, Green purchased a factory at Green Yard. Here he perfected ‘Goodyear welting’; a technique where a strip of leather is sown around the perimeter of the upper and onto the insole, greatly increasing the life of the shoe.
In 1985, with increased production demands, William moved to bigger, state of the art premises on the corner of Queen Street and Cromwell Road. The factory was used until 2013, before a final move to Grenson’s current premise.
During the Great War Grenson performed their duty, manufacturing thousands of boots for use on the front. During the Second World War, Grenson was once again called upon, and living up to their reputation of innovation, produced a revolutionary ‘flying boot’. The ‘flying boot’ had a detachable leg, making it easier for downed pilots to run while evading capture. Even then, Grenson was known for taking traditional shoe designs and adapting them to make the footwear fit for purpose.
Grenson now uses all this experience to continue producing innovative, high quality footwear that respects the rich heritage of the brand.
Whether you opt for one of our most popular styles like the Archie or the Stanley, or something more niche like the Bennett Suede Chukka Shoes, you know you’re investing in quality.
