Objects Database

Robert Lawrie Boots

Accession Number

1277.2015.1

Object Name

Robert Lawrie Boots

Created

10/11/2015

Creator

Hermione Cooper

Accession Date

10/11/2015

Brief Description

Two pairs of Robert Lawrie Boots with Vibram soles.

Materials

leather, rubber, metal

Dimensions

28(l) x 10(w) cms

Number Of Objects

2 pairs

Inscription Description

"VIBRAM" on sole
Inside tonge "ALPINE EQUIPMENT SPECIALIST ROBERT LAWRIE LTD LONDON W1 MADE IN ITALY"

Colour

brown, silver, black

Maker

Robert Lawrie

Object Production Place

London, England

Provenance

A couple of pairs of boots here with an interesting pedigree. They were kindly donated by Caroline Griffith who gave us the background in an e-mail after we had met her in London and collected the boots.

" Dear Mick
I hope you had a good time in London. A bit of background on the boots: they were bespoke made during the 1950's by Robert Lawrie for my parents, Grosvenor Talbot Griffith
( headmaster of Oakham School 1935 to 1957, born 1899) and his wife, Hilda Mary nee Nisbet, born 1908. He had hitherto walked/ climbed in tricouni nailed boots, she in cluster-three nailed shoes: neither were totally satisfactory so, since they so much enjoyed walking, they 'splurged' on good boots and never regretted the decision. Nor did I when I walked to Kala Pattar near Everest in the smaller pair ( the ones that have been resoled)
Best Wishes
Caroline"

We thought a little background on Robert Lawrie might be of interest too, so we've borrowed the following from Wikipedia.


"Robert Lawrie (1903–1982) was a British alpine and polar equipment specialist and racing driver.

Robert Lawrie was born in Burnley. He trained as a shoe and boot maker at his father's firm which he later ran. By the late 1920s he had become an accomplished climber and alpinist, and he started to design, manufacture and supply mountaineering boots to his own design. His boots proved popular and he was commissioned to supply boots for the 1933 Everest expedition led by Hugh Ruttledge. In 1935 he moved the business, now known as Robert Lawrie Ltd, to London, eventually working out of premises in his home in Seymour Street. He provided boots, climbing and mountaineering equipment to many expeditions including John Hunt's successful 1953 Everest campaign, for which he trained Wilfred Noyce in the art of boot repair.

A keen amateur racing driver, he participated in four 24 Hours of Le Mans races, debuting on June 25, 1949. He finished in 11th position in the 1949 Le Mans driving his Aston Martin 2-Litre Sports (DB1) and also 11th in 1951 driving his Jaguar XK-120C"

Acquisition Method

Donated by Caroline Griffith

Acquisition Date

10/11/2015

Condition Check Date

10/11/2015

Rules

Spectrum : UK Museum documentation standard, V.3.1 2007

Modified

10/11/2015

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