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Museum set to show off UK's smallest shoes
Rushden Museum will soon be displaying what are thought to be the smallest shoes in the country.
The two single shoes are about 6cm and are made out of leather, complete with laces and stitching.
They were handmade in the 1930s by Charles Whitworth, who was a stitcher at Alfred Sargent and Sons shoe factory in Rushden.
For the last three years, they have been on display at Northampton Museum, but now they are finally returning to their birthplace and will be on permanent loan at Rushden Museum.
Eric Fowell, president of the museum, is thrilled the shoes are coming back to Rushden.
He said: "When the exhibition of miniature shoes at Northampton Museum ended, the shoes were given back to Charles Whitworth's son, Bob, and he thought that, because they had been made in Rushden, it made sense that they come to our museum.
"We think it is brilliant that we now have them on permanent loan.
"These miniature shoes are just remarkable. They are very unusual and are the smallest shoes I have ever seen.
"The boot and shoe industry is what made our town grow. It was just a village before that, so the shoes will be an important display for the museum."
The two miniature shoes, an upper and a sole will be displayed in the museum's shoe room, together with shoes from Totectors, John White and Sanders Shoe factories and an old shoe factory clocking-in machine.
On Wednesday, June 24, the Rushden Probus Club will be visiting the museum for the opening of the display at 2pm.
On the day a framed print of Rushden station will also be presented to the museum by Mr and Mrs Sturgess. If anyone has handmade shoes smaller than 6cm volunteers at the museum would like to hear from you on 01933 353292.
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