Figure 1.--HBC estimates that this unidentified English image was taken about 1910. The boys wera caps and suits, but go barefoot. This would have been seen at the time as a sign of poverty.

English children do not normally go barefoot, even during the summer. It was generally seen as a sign of poverty, especially in the 19th and early 20th Century. This was especially true for city children. We notice poor children going barefoot even in inclemate weather. There are relatively few photographic images from the 19th century, primarily because outdoor photography was not common. The photographic process was involved and until the late 19th century, cameras were bulky and difficult to transport. This was confounded by the fact that few people thought poor barefoot children were a notable subject. This changed with the development of more compact cameras at the turn of the 20th century. In addition, several photographers with progressive attitudes began to use photography to document living conditions of the poor. We note quite a few images of barefoot children in the early 20th century. It was presumably even more common in the 19th century, but outdoor snapshots of poor children were presumably less common. More affluent children might play in the back garden barefoot on a warm sunny day, but even this was not common. We note far fewer children going barefoot after World War I (1914-18), we assume because of increasing income levels. This is somewhat suprising because of the Depression and hard times. At the same time we note many children wearing light-weight shoes, especially sandals and during the summer commonly without socks. Even during the difficult World War II years (1939-45), English children did not go barefoot, although sandals were very common.

Conventions

English children do not normally go barefoot, even during the summer. It was generally seen as a sign of poverty, especially in the 19th and early 20th Century. Here it was a simple matter of economics. Shoes were expensive. And some parents could not afford shoes for their children. We believe that the children in the city with coblestone streets probably needed shoes more than country children. Thus going barefoot was especially the sign of poverty among city children. A reader writes, "I am inclined to agree with your statement about barefoot trends in England. It was mostly due to poverty. As the standard of living improved, particularly after World War II, children going barefoot in England all but disappeared. Bare feet was seen as a sign of poverty in the U.K., so children normally wore shoes or sandals in the second half of the 20th century. My mother lived in England from the 1920s to the 1960s and she was able to confirm this. It is unlike North America and Australia, where bare feet is seen as a sign of freedom and is much more accepted." [Alcock]

Chronology

We believe that until the 20th century that it was relativeky common for English children to go barefoot, especially younger children. Only in the 20th century, however, so we have extensive photographic evidence.

19th century

Many English children went barefoot in the 19th century. It was presumabl more common in the 19th century than in the 20th century, but outdoor snapshots of poor children were presumably less common. We notice poor children going barefoot even in inclemate weather. There are relatively few photographic images from the 19th century, primarily because outdoor photography was not common. The photographic process was involved and until the late 19th century, cameras were bulky and difficult to transport. This was confounded by the fact that few people thought poor barefoot children were a notable subject.

20th century

This changed with the develoomnt of more compact cameras at the turn of the 20th century. In addoton, several photographers with progressive attitudes began to use photography to document living conditions of the poor. We note quite a few images of barefoot children in the early 20th century. More affluent children might play in the back garden barefoot on a warm sunny day, but even this was not common. We note far fewer children going barefoot after World War I (1914-18), we assume because of increasing income levels. This is somewhat suprising because of the Depression and hard times. At the same time we note many children wearing light-weight shoes, especially sandals and during the summer commonly without socks. Even duringbthe difficult World War II years (1939-45), English children did not go barefoot, although sandals were very common.

Gender Trends

We do not kno at this time if boys anf girls differed in the extent to which they went barefoot.

Personal Experiences

An English reader writes, "I was never barefoot at school except during PE but at school (boarding) and at home in and around the house at all times of the year it was common to change into just a pair of shorts and t-shirt and remain barefoot whilst playing; certainly my recollection through to being an older teenager. We were not allowed outdoor shoes inside so would either go barefoot, just in our socks (frowned on as we were told we could slip or trip) or wore slippers. Quite a few schools in the 70s/80s at least had children change from outdoor to indoor footwear (usually plimsolls) at least in the Winter months. The main reason being that dirt and snow etc had no place on clean floors and carpets."

Sources

Alcock, James. E-mail message, August 19, 2003.