Peal and Co. and Terry Moore
Terry Moore, who still works exclusively for us and has personally trained all of our makers, began his career with Peal and Co, the famous boot and shoemakers of 487 Oxford Street.
Peals were founded in 1791 and became the most successful makers in England, employing up to 200 staff. In 1952 Peal bought their 498 Oxford Street neighbours, Bartley and Son, inheriting their Fox and Boot emblem and moved to Wigmore Street in 1958. The business closed in 1965 after 174 illustrious years, when the family decided that was their best option. Peals' withdrawal from the London bespoke shoe trade was very helpful to the remaining shoemakers in London including Foster and Son, who acquired two important assets, their “Fox & Boot” emblem and Terry Moore.
The Peal family had an excellent reputation for innovation, and also for their world-wide reach. From the 1880s onwards, their craftsmen, latterly including Terry Moore, travelled extensively throughout North and South America, Europe and Asia, their foreign customers, including many distinguished names, accounting for about two-thirds of their production.
Terry has been with us for 45 years and the unique Fosters’ last shapes he has created and many other skills we take for granted can no doubt be traced back to his formative years at Peal and Co.
