Hundreds Of Victorian-Era Shoes Wash Ashore In Wales
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Dozens of black leather shoes dating back to the 19th century have been washing up along the beaches of Ogmore-by-Sea in South Wales. The unusual discovery has created one of the strangest mysteries in recent memory.
Volunteers from Beach Academy, who clean and restore rock pools along the coast, first spotted the shoes in September 2025. More continued to appear over the following months. Then, during a single week in December, about 200 shoes washed up in one area of the beach. In total, more than 400 have now been collected.
“I didn’t expect anything like this — certainly not such a quantity,” said Emma Lamport, founder of Beach Academy.
Many of the shoes are hobnailed, ankle-high, leather boots which were common during the Victorian era (1837 to 1901). Hobnailed boots have small metal studs hammered into the soles to make them stronger and help prevent slipping. Despite years in saltwater, the footwear is remarkably well preserved. Some appear to be men's shoes, while others are smaller. But experts note that adults in the 19th century often had smaller feet than people today.
Researchers are not sure where the shoes came from. However, the leading theory links them to a 19th-century shipwreck. In March 1831, an Italian cargo ship called the Frolic was heading to a port in Southern England when it struck Tusker Rock, a reef about two miles (3.2 km) offshore. The rock, visible only at low tide, has caused many shipwrecks over the years and earned the nickname "ship graveyard."
Why the shoes are appearing almost 200 years later is still a mystery. Dr. Michael Roberts, a shipwreck expert, says Victorian ships can take over a century to break down. The footwear was likely stored in large cases that sank into mud. Over time, storms and erosion may have slowly released them, and the ocean tides eventually carried them to land. The ancient shoe collection is now being carefully documented and preserved for future generations.
This is not the only historic shoe discovery in 2025. Earlier in the year, archeologists found 32 leather shoes at a Roman fort in northern England. Some dated back nearly 2,000 years. Several of the shoes were unusually large. Experts speculate they may have been for taller individuals or soldiers needing extra protection. They might also have belonged to people from other parts of the Roman Empire. While their owners remain a mystery, the shoes offer a rare window into ancient Roman life.
Resources: Smithsonianmag.com, wikipedia.org, Vice.com
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21 Comments
longlivetheuirabout 18 hoursI wonder how they got in the ocean.
pyjifucewowu1 daythe shoes are ugly but cool
ajuni2 daysWow I learned something new.- mihijehagose3 daysif those was my shoes I would thank them so much for doing that tyy
ohhhyeah4 daysWow, who knew shoes could play a huge role in history?- mukecofodumo4 dayspoor ship 😭
gesabegikyge4 daysthat is soooo cooll!
brawlstarslover4 dayscool and interesting at the same time!!
zihyzetebuby4 daysthat is cool
bookwermthebard4 daysVery interesting.
