TODAY (Friday) marks the end of the illustrious history of shoe making in Kendal as the Springer factory closes.
Parent company Clarks International has blamed increasing competition from overseas and changing customer demands for the factory's demise.
All that will remain of the business that was founded by Robert Somervell in 1842, and once employed thousands of people, will be around 80 jobs in the warehouse and shoe repair factory.
Michaela Robinson-Tate spoke to a long-serving employee and asked bosses at Clarks for their views.
Click on Kendal News for the full story.
May 2, 2003 09:30
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