Part 2
HOW TO HIDE YOUR GOLD FROM A BUSHRANGER: THE STORY BEHIND A STORY
John Lobb, five generations on, in London:
The bootmakers of London had a contact form on their website, so yes, of course I emailed them, in hot pursuit of an original John Lobb pair of boots.
I found something perhaps better.
His descendants still make bespoke shoes and boots using the hollow heel design of John Lobb their ancestor circa 1850s.
Johnathon Hunter Lobb, the director for John Lobb in London, replied back about whether they had any original designs or drawings from the 1850s of their ancestor’s boots.
“Our archives don’t go back that far. However we continue as a family business and keep the craft alive. We made up this pair of boots recently with the original hollow heel prospector boot in mind. The boot itself is a classic work boot that may well have been worn by the prospectors. The heel has been hollowed and is closed off be a leather flap which sits under the heel of the foot.”
Despite bushrangers not being not a problem on the streets of London, John Lobb Boots are highly sought after by celebrities, royalty and those who love bespoke footwear: they cost a minimum 5000 pounds new.
If only I could indulge and order a pair of boots with secret compartment footwear.
I had hoped to track down an original pair of John Lobb boots but unfortunately my search has not turned up anything… yet. I’m still on the case. I have some collections and museums on my bucket list to contact just in case a pair of Lobb boots are out there.
Want to check out more? Follow these links:
More on Thomas Balcombe: https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-2079747463/view
John Lobb, Bootmaker, of London: https://www.johnlobbltd.co.uk/
Coming soon:
The Rogues of Ballydoon will be released late June–early July and will feature a pair of John Lobb boots.
More from the blog
How to hide your gold from a bushranger – 1
I’m writing a short story set in the 1850s in Australia which features a bushranger hold-up gone wrong. How much research would I really have to do much research for a short story? Hahaha, not much, I foolishly thought. Ahem. I was wrong.
How to hide your gold from a bushranger – 2
I had hoped to track down an original pair of John Lobb boots but unfortunately my search has not turned up anything… yet. I’m still on the case. I have some collections and museums on my bucket list to contact just in case a pair of Lobb boots are out there.
Rural Fire Brigade Volunteers – 1
Meet Natasha Bamberry—Tash—who swapped surf breaks and sunbaking for making beds and chocolate at Wisteria Cottages and Heavenly Chocolate at Wyberba on the fringe of Girraween National Park on the border of New South Wales and Queensland in 2016.
A fascinating discussion is worth comment. I think that you ought to
write more about this issue, it may not be a taboo subject but
typically people do not speak about such topics.
To the next! Cheers!!