Housed in traditional shop premises in the very heart of the city, the name of Ducker & Son has for more than a century been synonymous with the pinnacle of the art of bespoke shoemaking.
The business was founded by Edward Ducker in 1898. He died in 1947 and left the business to his wife, who died two weeks later! A limited company was formed - the directors and shareholders of which now include Bob and Isobel Avery and also Hilary and Gillian who are descendants of Edward Ducker through the female line.
When Mr Ducker arrived in Oxford with his boot-making tools in 1898 he joined at least 20 other shoemakers in the city now there's just one, and the company is one of very few traditional hand-sewn shoemakers outside the West End of London.
So many well-known names can be found in the leather bound ledgers that are still in the shop.
Baron von Richthofen
J.R.R. Tolkien
Evelyn Waugh
Bowes-Lyon (The late queen-mother's family)
Maharajahs
Count Kerssenbroch
Prince George of Teck
Too many names to mention!
In more recent times
Matthew Pinsent (Olympic rower)
Rowan Atkinson
Jeremy Clarkson
Paul Gustafson (Author)
Nigel Sutcliffe (Hotelier)
Eddie Jordan (Formula 1)
The Rev'd Hugh W Bearn MA (Chaplain to Her Majesty The Queen)
Duckers is a shop where all are welcome, from the young undergraduate looking for his first pair of 'interview' shoes, to someone looking for that extra special purchase!
Set in traditional surroundings that have remained largely unchanged down the years, you will be afforded a warm welcome by Bob Avery (director and shop manager), ably assisted by his cheerful wife Isobel.
The business was founded by Edward Ducker in 1898. He died in 1947 and left the business to his wife, who died two weeks later! A limited company was formed - the directors and shareholders of which now include Bob and Isobel Avery and also Hilary and Gillian who are descendants of Edward Ducker through the female line.
When Mr Ducker arrived in Oxford with his boot-making tools in 1898 he joined at least 20 other shoemakers in the city now there's just one, and the company is one of very few traditional hand-sewn shoemakers outside the West End of London.
So many well-known names can be found in the leather bound ledgers that are still in the shop.
Baron von Richthofen
J.R.R. Tolkien
Evelyn Waugh
Bowes-Lyon (The late queen-mother's family)
Maharajahs
Count Kerssenbroch
Prince George of Teck
Too many names to mention!
In more recent times
Matthew Pinsent (Olympic rower)
Rowan Atkinson
Jeremy Clarkson
Paul Gustafson (Author)
Nigel Sutcliffe (Hotelier)
Eddie Jordan (Formula 1)
The Rev'd Hugh W Bearn MA (Chaplain to Her Majesty The Queen)
Duckers is a shop where all are welcome, from the young undergraduate looking for his first pair of 'interview' shoes, to someone looking for that extra special purchase!
Set in traditional surroundings that have remained largely unchanged down the years, you will be afforded a warm welcome by Bob Avery (director and shop manager), ably assisted by his cheerful wife Isobel.