SecretLeeds - History, culture and architecture in Leeds

No, not a comment on recent shenanigans.Does anyone else remember a funny old man called Jack the cobbler who, until the early seventies I think, had a shop on the former Green Road, now Lincoln Green Road? It was between Cromwell Street and Mabgate.My memory was jogged when I mentioned the smell of such places in the childhood smells thread. Honestly, this little 'shop' was a hovel really. We had to take our shoes down for soling and heeling when we were bairns. You'd walk in to something akin to the black hole of Calcutta, the floor strewn with rubber soles and the air thick with glue and rubber. I wonder whatever happened to old Jack - he looked about 90 years old to us and had probably been there donkeys', but was probably only 50 odd. Where were your cobblers? Heh.     

I remeber Jack'sWhat a dump,I don't think heever got rid of all the old leather etc. thathe replaced.The shop was on Green Road on the pavement sideof what is nowMabgate Mills.I think it eventually collapsed ofits own accord thus burying all tharubbish

Geordie-exile wrote: No, not a comment on recent shenanigans.Where were your cobblers? Heh.      When I was a kid in Calverley there were two shoe repairers - Basil Windsor and Les Bates. We tended to use Bates, whose shop's public area comprised only what had once been the passage from the front door when it was a private house. He also sold shoes, but there was no sales display, so customers had to say what they wanted, e.g. black Oxfords. Almost inevitably he could not supply from stock, so would order from his wholesaler for delivery within a few days. Otherwise Calverleyites would have to go to Leeds, Bradford, or Pudsey, so I suppose Les did all right until car ownership spread more rapidlCobblers are rare these days - I still use them; I have some quality shoes that are 40 and 30 years old, but it's Timpson kiosks I use now. Not sure where any "cobblers" remain.

Doesnt the cobblers on Armley Town Street still exist? corner of Theaker Lane???

there was a cobbler in early 60s that came to the houses on Swarcliffe, Stanks & Church Lane ls15 on a Sunday collected the shoes and returned them repaired the following week. His name my father told me was Billy Melia and said he was an ex boxer. I cannot imagine trusting anyone these days taking shoes away.

Wasn't (isn't) there a cobblers in Leeds called Mike and Bernies?

Si wrote: Wasn't (isn't) there a cobblers in Leeds called Mike and Bernies? Are you sure you're not confusing it with a critique of a certain "comedy act" ? Most people thought Mike & Bernie were cobblers!!!!!!

Uno Hoo wrote: Si wrote: Wasn't (isn't) there a cobblers in Leeds called Mike and Bernies? Are you sure you're not confusing it with a critique of a certain "comedy act" ? Most people thought Mike & Bernie were cobblers!!!!!! They are (were) cobblers, in both senses! I'm sure they had a place at the bottom of Vicar Lane near the Markets. Not sure if their surname was Winters, though!PS I've just Googled them, and they are listed as a locksmiths on Burley Road. They may have been cobblers originally (shoe repairs and key cutting seem to go hand-in-hand these days) or my memory is playing up. Don't know why I associate them with Vicar Lane though!    

I come from a family of cobblers.My Grandad and great uncle both had shops on Bramley town street before the redevelopment.Grandad was Herbert Miller and his brother was Steve Miller.They preferred to be called Boot and Shoe repairers not cobblers.

Craggs are cobblers and still going, although these days they also do key cutting, pet disc engraving, luggage and sporting trophies, etc as well.They had a shop at Seacroft Centre for years before it closed and now have branches at Cross Gates, the Moor Allerton Centre (Sainsburys) and in Leeds opposite the Town Hall.