The history of wellingtons
The wellington boot as we know it
The wellington boot as we know it, is a pvc or rubber boot, which normally comes to just below the knee
and will probably have a rugged, heavily treaded sole. The wellington will be completely water-resistant
and quite comfortable to wear.
Is this how wellingtons have always been?
The wellington boot is said to be derived from a boot worn by cavalry offices in the 19th centuty.
Popularised by The Duke of Wellington, the style soon caught on and became popular amongst gentlemen
and society.
The first rubber wellingtons, those most resembling in style and function the wellington boot we
know today, were manufactured in the 1850's, following the development of the process of vulcanisation.
Most modern wellingtons are made of synthetic materials, such as PVC.
For more information about wellies, please visit Wikipedia's wellington boot wiki
The history of Dunlop
The name Dunlop originates from the Gaelic Dun (fort) and Lop (at the bend). Dunlop, a natural location for a hill fort, is situated in south-west Scotland at the northern tip of Ayrshire. It was said to have been a Roman communications outpost and was certainly a focal point for fighting between Scots, Picts, Britons and Angles during the sixth century. With the passage of time the Dunlop village was built close by and a prominent local family adopted the Dunlop name.
One member of this family was called John Boyd Dunlop, a veterinary surgeon. He had a simple idea that changed the world.
In 1888, while watching his son ride a tricycle, John Boyd Dunlop noticed his sons discomfort whenever he rode over cobbled ground.
He knew the tricycle's solid rubber tyres were to blame. The solution? He wrapped the wheels in thin rubber sheets, glued them together, inflated them with a football pump for a cushioning effect - and created the first commercially viable pneumatic tyre. He patented the pneumatic rubber tyre in 1888 and in 1889, he opened his first tyre plant in Dublin and his first factory in Birmingham just two years later. Dunlop Rubber Co Ltd was born.
His development revolutionised the industry, emulating the same success shortly afterwards in the car industry. Ten years later, Dunlop's invention had almost entirely replaced solid tyres.
In 1929 Dunlop introduced a brand new product; the ‘Green Flash’; the first Dunlop rubber shoe. By 1927 Dunlop had joined forces with Liverpool Rubber Co and extended the range to include protective footwear.
Today, Dunlop Protective Footwear® is a fusion of businesses whose roots go back from the United Kingdom to Ireland to Portugal and rests in The Netherlands; a strong combination of experiences, expertise and manufacturing capability originating from differing climates, cultures and markets.