Cheaney
J. Cheaney, Boot and Shoemakers was founded in 1886 by Joseph Cheaney in the little town of Desborough, Northamptonshire. As his business expended, he was joined by his son, Arthur in 1890 before moving to the present site in 1896. Business continued to grow and in 1903, Arthur’s brother, Harold joined the business. J. Cheaney & Sons was thus born.
The family shoe making business continued to grow and in 1930, Joseph Humphrey ‘Dick’ Cheaney, grandson of the founder, joined the company. Upon returning from his service with the Royal Air Force in the Second World War, ‘Dick’ Cheaney envisioned and pursued a policy of producing the most finely crafted shoes for export as well as the home trade, and this has survived to the present day. In 1966, Cheaney won the Queen’s Award to Industry and was sold to Church & Company plc.
In August 2009, William and Jonathan Church carried out a management buy-out of the Cheaney business from Church & Co, and they now own and operate the company. Both William and Jonathan are fully committed to producing footwear entirely made in England. The hallmarks of the production of the finest quality goodyear welted shoes continue at Church & Co.
