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These hand sewn children's boots were made by a member of the Hughes family who owned a shoe business in Wantage from the mid 19th century through to the 20th century. The boots are typical of their time. Sidney Hughes, a member of the third generation of the Hughes family would have seen his grandfather and father making and repairing boots and shoes like these. Learning the shoe trade probably saved Sidney's life. Owing to his trade, he was removed from the First World War trenches to mend the soldiers' boots. An everyday trade like shoemaking not only changed one's mans life, but was also vital to the war effort.