This 1750s oval Shoe Patten, sometimes known as shoe irons, was riveted to a wooden piece and attached to the underside of a shoe with leather straps. These straps elevated the wearer out of the mud. However, they were often banned in churches due to the noise they made on stone floors. 

Due to the lack of road repairs and proper road structures, these foot pattens were a necessity from the early medieval period up to the 20th century. They were beneficial for walking on wet grass, muddy footpaths, and roads. Even maids wore them indoors to keep their feet warm on cold stone kitchen floors.