Somervell Brothers

of Kendal and later of Lancaster also. Makers of K Shoes.

1842 Robert Miller Somervell opened a "Shoemaking Accessories Merchant and Leather Factor" business.

1845 The company moved to Bridge End, Netherfield, Kendal.

1848 The company became Somervell Brothers, a partnership between brothers Robert Miller Somervell and John Somervell.

1853 Purchased the whole Netherfield site

1857 Introduced sewing machines

1865 The company, now a manufacturer of shoes, began to use its "K" logo.

1871 Employing 500 people.^[1]

1875 Registered the trademark 'K'

1899 Company now employs 600 persons.^[2]

c1900 The company was by this time manufacturing 175,000 pairs of shoes a year.

1915 Became a limited company

1920 A new factory was built in Lancaster.

1927 London office opened

1937 With C. and J. Clark the took over the failing Abbots retail chain

1949 Became a public company: K Shoes Ltd.

1953 Acquired the footwear manufacturing subsidiary of W. Abbott and Sons^[3]

1951 Opened a factory at Low mills, Kendal. later opened others at Askam-in-Furness, Workington, Millom, Shap.

1961 Acquired W. H. H. Clarke of Norwich

1981 Company merged with Clarks Shoes.

2003 Production ceased.

Sources of Information

Trademarked. A History of Well-Known Brands - from Aertex to Wright's Coal Tar by David Newton. Pub: Sutton Publishing 2008 ISBN 978-0-7509-4590-5
Cumbria Industries