What is a Patten?

Pattens are under shoes designed to be worn outdoors and to lift the wearers and their shoes above the mud and grime of early streets.

Most pattens take the form of a shaped wooden platform with leather or cloth straps to hold the shoes upon it.

Pattens are under shoes designed to be worn outdoors and to lift the wearers and their shoes above the mud and grime of early streets. Most pattens take the form of a shaped wooden platform with leather or cloth straps to hold the shoes upon it. Sadly the Pattenmakers were done out of business by the paving of the streets of London by the Worshipful Company of Paviors.

A comprehensive collection of pattens is on display in our Guild Church of St Margaret Pattens, Rood Lane and Eastcheap

The Livery Companies of London, numbering 110 at present, comprise London’s ancient and modern trade associations and guilds.