Patten

Pattens (Medieval:patyns) are a type of overshoe that are strapped to the feet over the shoe developed during the early 12th century but not very common until the late 14th. They reduce wear on the sole and raised the foot up out of the wet.

Types

Pattens fall into three types:

• one piece wooden platform soles
• flat, wooden hinged soles (popular in the early 15th century
• multi-layered leather soles from the late 13th century but uncommon before the end of the 14th century

Composition

Fittings

They all had fittings that secured the patten to the foot. Most of these were of leather but one 13th century example had iron fittings. Heel straps appear inthe late 14th century

Materials

In England medieval pattens were made of a variety of woods, but willow, poplar (both resitant to splintering and long lasting if kept damp) and alder (resistant and durable when wet) were most common. Beech was also sometimes used as well as aspen but only of such timber that was "not apt, sufficient, nor convenient" to be made into arrowshafts.

Decoration

Decorative stitching is the most common type of decoration on the straps. Possibly a back stitch was used. Stamped decoration was also used as well as painted stripes.

External Links

See Also: wikipedia:patten.

• Pattens and Overshoes
• Atlantian A&S Links: Pattens