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CHARLES BURNS & SONS, SHOEMAKERS EST 1867

by JAMES BURNS 28 September
  • JAMES BURNS 1842-1900
  • SHOP SIGN
  • JAMES BURNS 1899-1976
  • WILLIAM GRAHAM BURNS 1944 - PRESENT
  • CHARLES BURNS 1870-1956
  • JAMES BURNS (far right) shoemakers apprentice c1918
  • CHARLES BURNS AT REAR OF SHOE SHOP IN WORKING APRON c1945

The Burns Shoe Shop, situated at 65  Main Street, Kilwinning, was in business for almost 140 years, serving the local and wider community with quality footwear, accessories and providing shoe repairs. The shop as we like to call it was originally opened elsewhere in the Main Street but we do not know where before it relocated to its present position. 

James Burns (1842 - 1900) was the first to open the family business which would last for quite a few generations. James had four sons, Robert, Charles, James and William, all of whom were taught the craft and skills that make a shoemaker. There were also two daughters, Elizabeth and Mary. 

The business was then passed onto his second son, Charles (1870 - 1956), who then passed it onto his only son James (1899-1976). He also had three daughters, Martha, Elizabeth and Peggy.   James then passed the business to his youngest son William Graham Burns (1944-present) around the time I was born in 1967. 

William Graham Burns had served time at a large shoe store in Glasgow, learning all that was possible to learn on the fine art of shoe fitting and all the types of footwear. When taking over the reins at the shop in Kilwinning, he did not carry on with the shoemaking side, only the retail side of footwear. During the 1980's he ventured into Chiropody and set up a small room at the rear of the shop to cater for customers requiring foot care. This then prompted several of his sons to follow in his footsteps!! and learn the art of Chiropody. During 2006, Graham decided to close the shoe shop down and take early retirement. The shop was then extensively refurbished and made into two larger treatment rooms( one for Chiropody ) and a reception area.

 To this day Charles Burns & Sons still operates with Stewart Burns running the Chiropody treatment, keeping the Burns business going into the 21st century. 

Author:  James Burns, May 2009

 


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23 August | 5:02:13

alexander mcmanus says

Very interesting history the Burns family shoe shop although I am more or less a newcomer to the area I have been a resident of Auchentiber for the past ten years and love Ayrshire.

8 February | 3:31:53

Ellen Adamson says

I do remember a shoe shop beside McCrorie's at the Woodwynd side.Can't remember if there were 2 shops before McCrorie's or just this shoe shop.

13 February | 11:07:37

Ellen Adamson says

1901 Census
Name: Chas Burns
Age: 29
Estimated birth year: abt 1872
Relationship: Head
Spouse's name : Mar
Gender: Male
Where born: Kilwinning
Registration Number: 599
Registration district: Kilwinning
Civil parish: Kilwinning
Town: Kilwinning
County: Ayrshire
Address: 72 Main St
Occupation: Shoemaker
ED: 12
Household schedule number: 33
Line: 24
Roll: CSSCT1901_230
Household Members: Name Age
Chas Burns 29
Mar Burns 22
Jas Burn 2
Wm Burn

1 March | 5:30:40

JAMES BURNS says

Thankyou Ellen for that information. I wasn't aware that the 1901 census was available.

3 March | 10:06:14

JAMES BURNS says

There was indeed 2 shoe shops either side of McCrories' ironmongers. I asked my dad about them and he remembers Carrs shoe shop ( a small multiple chain of stores ), and the other was further down the hill John Reid shoe shop, next to Willie Wilsons' paper shop.

7 July | 10:39:03

Ellen Adamson says

Hi again James.The shoe  shop i am meaning had a window facing the woodwynd I remember it had a funny pair of black shoes in the middle shelf(clogs) My Father and i was standing in the middle of the road ,main st. opposite the opening for the Woodwynd,where we had came from and my Father turned back towards the man he was talking with and said "well he won't have far to move then"

I am not sure if they moved straight to the shop ,or if they had at one time 2 shops next to each other.The shoe shop ,and next to that i believe was the tenement type building ,sat  back a bit,and the window nearest the shoe shop was the cobbler part of the business.That is where i remember Mr.Burns coming out of the communal lobby ,with his leather apron on.I think it was his son who ran the shop. c1951

11 July | 6:18:27

Ellen Adamson says

Carr's took  the shop over after this.

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