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These shoes were made locally in the Manfield factory which provided employment for many living in the Abington area. The Manfield factory was built in 1892 opposite the park on the Wellingborough Road.

The building is now split into business units including a restaurant and care home.

A place to work

In this section of the exhibition discover how the house has been a place of work. There have been many different types of jobs for people in Abington. Once mainly agricultural, more recently the area has been home to shoe factories and breweries. Dr Prichard established a private asylum at Abington Manor in 1845. He was at the forefront of the non-restraint movement and believed physical restraint of patients was not necessary with proper treatment.

Find out more about the collection and the history of shoes and shoemaking in Northampton.

The history of Northampton shoemaking

Concealed shoes

Shoe styles