Witch shoes, also known as witch boots, are a type of footwear often associated with witches and commonly seen in Halloween costumes and other witch-themed attire. These shoes are typically characterized by their pointed and curved toe shape, resembling a slightly turned-up and elongated point. They are often depicted as having a high heel and a tall shaft, reaching up to the knee or even the thigh. The origins of witch shoes can be traced back to various folklores and legends surrounding witches and their appearance. In many cultures, witches are believed to wear distinctive footwear as a symbol of their magical powers or to help them fly on broomsticks. The idea of the exaggerated pointed toe may have originated from historical footwear styles like the poulaine shoes worn by nobility in the 14th and 15th centuries.

Century-old shoe mystery solved: Footwear in walls meant to ward off evil spirits

Why was an old shoe hidden in a wall of Lougheed House? Mystery solved. It warded off evil. Calgary Herald archives.

The idea of the exaggerated pointed toe may have originated from historical footwear styles like the poulaine shoes worn by nobility in the 14th and 15th centuries. In modern times, witch shoes have become a popular motif in the fashion industry, particularly during the Halloween season. They are often made from various materials, such as leather, vinyl, or fabric, and can be found in a wide range of colors and designs to suit different costume themes and personal preferences.

Article content

Author, photojournalist and former Calgary Herald journalist David Bly wrote the following historical piece, looking back at a mysterious old shoe that was found inside the wall of Lougheed House. The story was first published in the Herald on March 24, 2006.

A shoe more than 100 years old sitting in a wall cavity in the Lougheed mansion reflects a centuries-old practice intended to keep out evil spirits.

Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.

• Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.
• Get exclusive access to the Calgary Herald ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.
• Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.
• Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.
• Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.

Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.

• Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.
• Get exclusive access to the Calgary Herald ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.
• Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.
• Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.
• Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.

Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.

• Access articles from across Canada with one account.
• Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.
• Enjoy additional articles per month.
• Get email updates from your favourite authors.

Don't have an account? Create Account

If you are a Home delivery print subscriber, unlimited online access is included in your subscription. Activate your Online Access Now

When workers involved in the restoration of the Lougheed mansion found a shoe in the wall several years ago, Trudy Cowan, then executive director of the Lougheed House Conservation Society, thought it had been hidden there by a child fearful of punishment.

The sandal-type shoe, made for a child of five or six, appears to have been cut with a knife. Because it was found in the outer wall of a children’s room, Cowan theorized that one of the young Lougheeds had damaged the shoe and had somehow hidden it in the wall.

“ It was just reasoned speculation, ” said Cowan, who retired at the end of 2005.

A couple of years after the shoe was found, Cowan was at a conference in Lunenberg, N.S., and visited an 18th-century house undergoing restoration. A wall was partly opened, and there on display was a child’s shoe that had been found in the wall.

“ That’s when I found out about concealment shoes, ” said Cowan.

An old shoe sits in a wall cavity in the restored Lougheed mansion. Found by workers during restoration, the shoe was placed there to ward off evil spirits, a superstition dating back hundreds of years. Photo by David Bly; Calgary Herald archives.

It’s part of a superstition going back hundreds of years, mainly in Europe. An article of clothing — the most common being a shoe — is placed in the wall near an opening such as a window, door or fireplace, to guard against intrusions by the devil or evil spirits.

The history of the practice is obscure — “ it’s not written in any builder’s manual, ” said Cowan — but some researchers have speculated the shoes or other garments may have been a substitute for human sacrifice, harking back to a time when humans were killed and placed in walls of buildings to give them strength .

The tradition seems to have originated in Europe, spread to Britain, and reached its peak in the 19th century.

The shoes placed in walls are always worn, and most are children’s shoes.

The Northampton Museum in England maintains an index of some 2,000 shoes. Most have been found in western Europe, but they have turned up in the U.S., mostly in New England, when old houses have undergone restoration.

Lorne Simpson, the architect who oversaw the restoration of the Lougheed House, said as far as he knows, the Lougheed shoe is the only one found in Calgary.

“ I’ve not run into one, ” said Simpson, who has been involved in many heritage restoration projects, “ and I’ve certainly opened up more historic buildings than anyone else. ”

He said it’s almost certain the shoe was placed by Scottish stonemasons who were building the Lougheed mansion, which was completed in 1891.

Cowan said the shoe was restored to its place in the wall in a brief ceremony attended by Lougheed House staff and members of the Lougheed family.

This is the back of the Lougheed Mansion as it was being restored in 2000. Calgary Herald archives. CAL

The Ruby Slippers Project

This is, possibly, the most prized pair of ruby slippers; they certainly are my personal favorite! They were originally found by Kent Warner, along with several of the other pairs already discussed, in the spring of 1970 (Thomas, 223), but unlike the others they are the pair he prized and “kept in his personal possession for more than a decade” (223). The slippers “are distinguished from other pairs of ruby slippers by their size – smaller than [all] others” (223) at 5B, with an ever so slightly higher heel, and sleeker toe. The shoes also “lack [the] orange felt on the soles of each shoe” (223) found on the front foundation of all other pairs.

(Image courtesy A&E Television Networks)

Rhys Thomas believes these attributes suggest “they are the pair of close-up or ‘insert’ s[l]ippers worn by Judy Garland when […] Dorothy taps her heels together three times” (223). While “Kent Warner certainly believed this[,]” it is not a sentiment I share. I strongly believe, and screen captures of the scene, along with details of the authentic shoes support, that the “no place like home” shoes are, in fact, not the “Witch’s Shoes.”

Physically, like all other screen-used pairs of ruby slippers, “the red faille uppers and heels [on this pair] are covered with hand-sequined georgette and the shoes are lined in white kid leather” (Thomas, 223). Unlike all other pairs of the slippers, the embossed label in the right shoe is heat stamped into the shoe in gold, rather than silver as found in the Smithsonian and Michael Shaw shoes. The label, like all others, “reads Innes Shoe Co. Los Angeles, Pasadena, Hollywood” (223). Each shoe “is inscribed on the lining [with] #7 Judy Garland, written in block-lettered black ink” (223), in what appears to be the same hand as the other pairs. While the Smithsonian and Michael Shaw pairs are both simply inscribed Judy Garland, the “Witch’s shoes” are the only pair of shoes to bare a number before Garland’s name. Its meaning is unknown. The “manufacturer’s number is written into the right shoe X 6802 5 [C] D 536” (223). The shoes “are in excellent condition”, which Thomas believes “suggest[s] little wear, if any” (223).

(Image: "The Wizard of Oz: The 50th Anniversary Pictorial History," pg 230)

According to Thomas, the shoes were found “by Kent Warner prior to the 1970 MGM auction” (223), in a place he alternatively called “an old soundstage, a barn, a place missing a roof,” “Ladies Character Wardrobe,” and “Mr. Culver’s Barn” (207). Regardless, Warner “spirited [them away] from the studio without the knowledge of the auctioneers” (223).

While “for years, few people knew of their existence” (Thomas, 223) Warner kept them “prominently displayed in [the corner of his] apartment” (94). There, “[t]hey were on a square pedestal, about [four and a half] feet tall, […] covered in a Lucite box, [on] a little plastic stand to elevate them” (94).

Kent Warner - with Judy Garland (Image courtesy A&E Television Networks)

Thomas has publically wondered, if, while in his possession, Warner didn’t alter “this pair of ruby slippers in any way. Did he find ‘circular suff marks’ on their soles, or put them there; were they really the seventh pair of slippers or did he write #7 Judy Garland in them?” Personally, I find the scuffmarks suspect, as I firmly believe this pair was not used in that sequence. The number is equally suspect, given its dissimilarity to other pairs.

(Image: Source Unknown)

Warner first “publically acknowledged possession of the slippers in 1977” (Thomas, 223), and “first attempt[ed] to sell them […] in December, 1980, when [he] offered [them] at a movie memorabilia auction held at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles” (223-24). Warner expected the shoes to sell for “as much $75,000. But, prudently, he set a $20,000 minimum. They didn’t sell” (“Treasure”). A year later, Warner again “consigned the shoes to public auction at Christie’s East, where they sold for $12,000 on October 21, 1981 to an anonymous buyer in northern California” (Thomas, 224). Eight years later, “[o]n August 9, 1988, the buyer [again] offered the shoes for sale at Christie’s” (224) “shortly after the sale of Roberta Bauman’s pair” (“Treasure”). Christie’s “arranged a private sale” (“Treasure”) which “matched sealed bids[,] and for $165,000 they were purchased by Philip Samuels of St. Louis, Missouri” (224).

(Image: Time Warner / Warner Bros.)

The Ruby Slippers Project

Despite their association with witches, witch shoes have also become a fashion statement in their own right. Many people, not just those dressing up as witches, enjoy wearing these unique and eye-catching shoes as a fun and stylish accessory. They can add a touch of whimsy and playfulness to an outfit, whether it be for a costume party or simply for everyday fashion. In conclusion, witch shoes are a distinct type of footwear often associated with witches and commonly seen in Halloween costumes and other witch-themed attire. With their pointed and curved toe shape, they have become an iconic symbol of witchcraft and are enjoyed by both those dressing up as witches and those who appreciate their unique and fashionable design..

Reviews for "The Witch's Sole Mystery: What Exactly Are Witch Shoes Called?"

1. Sara - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "What are witch shoes called". The book lacked depth and failed to provide any new or interesting information about witch shoes. The title had intrigued me, but the content felt lacking and underwhelming. I was left wanting so much more. Overall, a letdown.

2. Alex - 1 star - I have to say, "What are witch shoes called" was a complete waste of my time. The author seemed more concerned with fluff and filler than actually answering the question posed in the title. I found the writing style to be disjointed and confusing, and the book did not provide any substantial knowledge or insight. I would not recommend this book to anyone seeking a genuine exploration of witch shoe terminology.

3. Emily - 2 stars - As someone who was genuinely curious about the answer to the question, "What are witch shoes called", I was sorely disappointed by this book. It failed to deliver on its promise, with limited information and a lack of depth. The author seemed more interested in providing surface-level descriptions rather than diving into the historical and cultural significance of witch shoes. Overall, a missed opportunity.

4. Michael - 2 stars - "What are witch shoes called" left me unsatisfied and unimpressed. The content felt repetitive, and I expected a more comprehensive exploration of the topic. The book lacked critical analysis and failed to capture my attention. Overall, it fell short of my expectations and left me wanting more substance and depth.

5. Jennifer - 1 star - I found "What are witch shoes called" to be a complete bore. The writing was dry and uninspiring, and the book failed to provide any unique or thought-provoking insights. It read more like a mundane list of shoe names instead of an engaging exploration of witchcraft and its associated footwear. I would not recommend this book to anyone seeking an exciting and enlightening read.

Wizardry Footwear: Decoding the Name of Witch Shoes