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Mr Robert Boyd
Robert Boyd and family moved to 5, Prospect Terrace in 1932. He built a wooden hut in his garden measuring 8ft by 10ft and continued his cobbling business there. Later, with help, he moved the hut in sections to his selected site opposite the Methodist Chapel, Sun Street. There it stayed. Robert retired in 1961 but son Ernie carried on the business. Ernie spent 56 years as a cobbler aided by Brother Jimmy who spent 30 years in the business.
Ernie carried out repairs for generations of some families and dealt with famous people like Lord Gort, Hughie Gallagher the footballer, Dr. Miller and Father Pickering of Byermoor. His little hut was bulging at the seams with shoes at all stages of repair, identified with chalk. He liked nothing better than a little chat! Ernie retired in 1986. The Burdon Park Luxury Housing Complex surrounded his little hut but there it remained until 1993 when he allowed it to be demolished so that an existing garden could be extended.