What WELLY do YOU wear?
| Published: 14th June 2008 21:32 |
The History of the Wellington Boot!
Arthur Wellesley, the first Duke of Wellington, instructed his shoemaker, Hoby of St. James' Street, London, to modify the Hessian 18th century boot. This new boot was made of calfskin leather and must have been a transformation on previous Hessian boot. It would have been hard wearing, comfortable, lighter and probably treated with wax to help make it waterproof. The Duke of Wellington soon realized the advantage of better footwear for his troops and then the ball was rolling. The Wellington boot then played a pivotal role in history; the Battle of Waterloo, the American War of Independence and latterly in both World Wars. Such was the significance of his design they were worn at the Duke's funeral cortege, and the name Wellington boot was born.
Long gone are the days of your plain green or black welly..........you can choose from Festival wellies, patterned, spotty, stripes, animal print, fish, flowers, lime green, lilac, yellow, cerise pink, orange, .......what do you wear?
