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For some patrons, the exhibition may stir up memories of being fitted for their first pair of childhood footwear on a rather cold metal measuring device. Some visitors, the displays of pristine Wallabees and Desert Boots may recall youthful obsessions with American rap culture or Britpop movements.

Memories will also flood back for many residents whose families made Clarks shoes for generations, as the box-fresh Shoemakers Museum opens its doors in the English village of this historic location.

Nicky Dowding noted that some guests may be astonished at how far this quintessentially UK label, which is marking its bicentennial anniversary in this year, spread across the world. “At home, the company is often associated with school shoes, but within fans across the world it’s perceived in distinctly unique ways,” she explained.

Dozens of examples of shoes are on display, with some cabinets resembling vibrant, modern works of contemporary art. She revealed that a significant number were in storage: “Among the major jobs we’ve had while creating the museum is actually what do we put on display? Which narratives do we want to tell? Since there is an overwhelming amount.”

Enthusiasts of hip-hop and the TV series the acclaimed show are likely to head straight to the displays of the iconic shoes, created in the late 1960s, and modeled by the traditional soft shoe.

The this style was initially seen as too radical in the UK but turned out to be immensely successful in the United States and was adopted by members of the NYC hip-hop band the renowned collective, who wore them, wrote about them, and featured them in album covers.

In later years, these shoes played a featured role in the opening scene of the series when the main character, the science instructor turned illicit drug super-cook, wore a set, together with comical white underwear.

A further key feature of the museum is its story of the desert boot, influenced by the journeys of a company relative to Burma and India during the World War II. They grew into a staple of the mods in the UK and were also worn enthusiastically by Liam and Noel Gallagher.

The company’s Quaker founders may have been surprised that their enterprise became such a popular choice among celebrities.

The inaugural exhibit in the gallery is a simple pair of slippers made from offcuts of a sheepskin rug around the early 19th century. The exhibition details how the company quickly expanded into one of the most significant in the Southwest England, and how the founders did good works in the region and farther afield.

Cato Pedder, head of the trust that preserves and promotes the Clarks story, explained the business prospered because of its ethical foundations. “Among the Quaker testimonies is truth, and that ensures that you’re very transparent in all your transactions,” she added. “Everyone relied on them. The family made some money through the business. This allowed them to become philanthropic and work for votes for women. They were involved in the fight against enslavement in the United States.”

Tim Crumplin said his preferred part of the new museum was a set of equipment from the Desert Boot production line, which was based at the Bushacre factory. The factory shut down a 25 years ago and the boots are now made in the Asia.

Crumplin commented: “The majority of the workers that operated on that line worked there for many years.” One worker was called after the ballet dancer because he worked so swiftly and efficiently between the two stations he operated. “They were so proficient at what they did.”

If the casual shoes and boots will attract music fans, detailed replicas of Clarks retail stores will evoke nostalgia for many more people.

Rosie Martin observed: “I think, people will be able to see their own stories in the exhibit. People will recall having their feet measured on the gauge so that their initial footwear were correctly fitted. It was a ritual, a rite of passage.”

Among the cases includes her daughter’s first shoe, with a instant photo of her in the shop. “It’s precious to me,” she remarked. “It unlocks a box of reminiscences.”