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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Northamptonshire => Topic started by: umalaka on Sunday 02 May 10 18:08 BST (UK)
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I guess if, like me, you have ancestors from the Northampton area, then it's likely someone was involved in the shoe trade. I have several 'clickers' in my lot but didn't really appreciate what a hard life it was.
I found the following in a copy of The Rate Payer dated Dec 1886 in Northampton Central Library...
Regards
John
The Clicker written by C Lory
A Clicker when he starts his life,
He’s as happy as can be;
No thought of care comes in his mind,
He’s jovial, gay and free.
But later on the trouble comes,
When he wants better pay;
He is stood aside for someone else,
The school-board of today.
Now what to do he does not know,
To earn his daily bread;
He sees the river dark and cold,
And wishes he were dead.
Careworn, hungry, on he goes,
At last a thought it strikes him;
To enter in another trade,
That thought somewhat revives him.
But the tradesmen sigh and turn their backs,
For they see his clothes threadbare;
And tell him he may call again,
Or seek his fortunes elsewhere.
They little think of those at home,
The poor man has to keep;
With sinking heart and broken frame,
He’s turned out in the street.
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Thanks for sharing,
My pap was a clicker so makes an interesting read and appreciate what he did :)
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Hi all,
My grandfather was a Clicker in Kettering.
He and his fellow Clickers were proud of their status as the most skilled workers on the factory floor.
Dav
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l have an apprentice indenture paper for my great great granddad for churches shoes in northampton dated 1891 l also have lots of photos taken in the 20,30 and 40s showing pictures of the clicker rooms etc my uncle was a hide buyer for one of the northampton show companies