The History of Dick Whittington Shoes

It all started at a prisoner-of-war barracks in Hay Paddock ( Hayfields today) by John Terblanche . Production commenced on the 7th May 1948 . The company employed 10 people that made 30 pairs of shoes per day using the stitch down process.

The name “Dick Whittington” was derived from a black cat that
		had taken up residence in the kitchen of the barracks and had no intention of leaving. For many years, even after the company moved premises, the cat and later its offspring, were treated as a “factory overhead”.

By the end of its first year in business, production had outgrown the premises. Output had increased to 300 pairs per day with 79 members of staff. A friend gave a piece of land in a village called Plessislaer, a few miles out of town, to John Terblanche. This turned out to be the perfect location at the time, having two tanneries and an abundance of labour at close proximity. In September 1951, the new factory was officially opened. During the ensuing years, business continued to grow rapidly, some of this growth occasioned by acquisitions along the way. This required further expansion of the premises. By 1980, modern offices were built and the factory was further expanded as output increased to some 4000 pairs per day.

By this time the company changed hands. The Calan Group and later Conshu Holdings acquired the business and it became a division of the Group specialising in quality, highly durable work shoes made using the genuine Goodyear welted process.

In 1998, the company celebrated its golden jubilee as a division of the Group.

By 2002, the company once again changed hands, this time being acquired by its management team. It continues to operate from its existing premises and has been hailed as one of the more successful BEE Companies today. It continues to flourish under its new owners as it cerebrates its 60 years of existence this year.