Crown Northampton does everything in-house, from the first cut of leather to the final polish.
What makes it even more impressive is that nothing is mass-produced. Every pair is made to order. Once you click “buy,” that’s when the real work begins.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through how Crown Northampton sizing works in general, and then break down how each collection fits, from their Woodford to sneakers to their handwelted shoes. You’ll also find their size chart and a quick guide on how to measure your feet before ordering.
Time to get into the details.
Crown Northampton Sizing
Crown Northampton shoes and sneakers fit true to UK sizing. If you already know your UK size, you can stick with it.
If you’re more familiar with US sizing, just go one size down to find your UK equivalent. For example, a US 9 equals a UK 8.
Standard and Wide Fits
All their footwear comes in an F fitting, which is the UK’s standard width and works well for most people.
If your feet are wider, you can ask for a G fitting. Just add “G Fitting” in the notes when checking out, and they’ll customize your pair accordingly.
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Sneaker Length and Comparison
When it comes to length, Crown sneakers feel close to brands like Nike, Converse, Vans, or New Balance. So, if you know your size in those, that’s a good place to start.
But, if you’re comparing them to dress shoes like Crockett & Jones, Tricker’s, or Edward Green, it’s better to go up half a size because Crown’s sneakers run a touch shorter.
Extra Insoles for a Better Fit
Each sneaker order includes an extra pair of insoles. If the fit feels slightly loose, you can layer in the second insole to tighten things up.
The Made-to-Order Advantage
One thing that sets Crown Northampton apart is how personal the made-to-order process feels.
You can share details about your feet, talk to their team, or even request small adjustments before your sneakers are made. That means fewer returns, less waste, and a better fit straight out of the box.
Chris once mentioned they actually have a team dedicated to helping customers get the right size every day. It’s rare to find that kind of attention in footwear now, and it really shows in the final product.
So, if you’re ready to order, just go with your usual UK size, or one down from your US size. And if your feet are wider or tricky to fit, they’ll make it work.
Related: If you’re curious how other handmade brands compare, check out our Caswell sizing guide. Both Crown and Caswell build their shoes with that same traditional English craftsmanship, but Caswell tends to run a touch narrower, especially through the midfoot.
Crown Northampton Size Chart
| US | UK | EU | JP (cm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 3 | 37 | 23 |
| 4.5 | 3.5 | 37.5 | 23.4 |
| 5 | 4 | 38 | 23.8 |
| 5.5 | 4.5 | 38.5 | 24.2 |
| 6 | 5 | 39 | 24.6 |
| 6.5 | 5.5 | 39.5 | 25 |
| 7 | 6 | 40 | 25.4 |
| 7.5 | 6.5 | 40.5 | 25.8 |
| 8 | 7 | 41 | 26.2 |
| 8.5 | 7.5 | 41.5 | 26.6 |
| 9 | 8 | 42 | 27 |
| 9.5 | 8.5 | 42.5 | 27.4 |
| 10 | 9 | 43 | 27.8 |
| 10.5 | 9.5 | 43.5 | 28.2 |
| 11 | 10 | 44 | 28.6 |
| 11.5 | 10.5 | 44.5 | 29 |
| 12 | 11 | 45 | 29.4 |
| 12.5 | 11.5 | 45.5 | 29.8 |
| 13 | 12 | 46 | 30.2 |
| 13.5 | 12.5 | 46.5 | 30.6 |
| 14 | 13 | 47 | 31 |
| 14.5 | 13.5 | 47.5 | 31.4 |
| 15 | 14 | 48 | 31.8 |
Related: You might also want to read how Bordon sizing works. Their fit leans a bit roomier compared to Crown Northampton, especially around the toe box, which makes them a solid option if you like a bit more space upfront.
Crown Northampton Woodford Sizing
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Since Crown Northampton is a UK brand, their numbers follow the UK sizing system. That means you’ll need to go one size down from your usual US size.
For example, if you’re a US 9 like me, you’ll want a UK 8. Most UK-made shoes run true to size, unlike many American brands that suggest you go half a size down.
But if your feet are on the wider side, you might want to consider going up half a size for a bit more comfort.
I went with a UK 8, which matches my US 9D Brannock size, and the fit turned out just right.
My toes have a little breathing room, not quite a full thumb’s width, but enough to stay comfortable without any squishing.
The leather feels soft around the foot, which makes the whole boot feel easy-going right from the start.
The shaft is pretty low and really soft, too. When I first slid my foot in, I was a bit worried I’d crush it, but it holds up just fine.
With only two eyelets, it’s quick to lace up, and I actually like how the shaft curves slightly as it rises. It gives the boot a clean, subtle shape without looking too plain.
Once you’ve got them on, they kind of wrap around your feet in that snug, glove-like way. There’s not a ton of internal volume, but the unstructured build means your toes don’t get pressed down. That’s probably what makes them feel so natural when you walk.
Related: If you like Crown’s made-to-order feel, you’ll probably enjoy how Craft & Glory sizing works
too. Craft & Glory shoes tend to fit a bit more snug out of the box, especially before the leather softens up.
Crown Northampton Abington Sizing
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The Abingtons are a bit different from your usual sneakers. They’re made to order, which means you don’t just click “add to cart” and hope they fit. Crown Northampton actually want to get the fit right for you.
When I first ordered mine, I made the classic mistake and I guessed my size. I told Chris, “Yeah, give me a 9.5, that’s what I always wear in sneakers.” Big mistake. They didn’t fit. That’s totally on me.
What’s cool, though, is how they handled it. Chris explained that they like to talk with customers before finalizing a size.
You can tell them if you’ve got a high arch, wide feet, or even something like a bunion, and they’ll adjust the sneaker or one side of it to match your feet.
I even sent Chris a picture of my feet, and he said that’s totally normal. They do that all the time to help people get the right fit. How many brands do that? Not many. It’s one of those small things that show how much Crown care about fit and comfort.
Now, in terms of sizing, the Abington fits closer to a dress shoe than a typical sneaker…
I’m a 9 on the Brannock scale. In running shoes, I usually wear a 9.5; in heritage boots like Red Wing or Viberg, I go for 8.5.
In dress shoes, I’m back to a 9, which is a half a size down from my usual sneaker size.
For me, a UK 8 (which equals a US 9) was spot on. The fit was neither tight nor loose, and the last gives a bit of extra space. If you’re thinking about sizing down, don’t. The fit is already generous enough.
As for the details, the cotton laces do a good job locking your foot in. They pull through the eyelets with a nice tension, which lets you fine-tune the snugness across your foot.
So yeah, the formula is pretty simple: take your US size, go one full size down to get your UK size. If you’re used to US boot sizing, subtract half a size instead.
Related: You can also take a look at our Christian Daniel sizing guide. Their fit sits somewhere between casual and dressy, slightly sleeker than Crown Northampton’s sneakers but not as structured as their handwelted styles.
From One Man’s Workshop to a Family Legacy
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Crown Northampton’s story goes way back to 1860 with the birth of Edwin Woodford.
By 1908, after a stint in South Africa, Edwin returned home and opened E. Woodford & Sons with his son Ernest.
They didn’t start as a big factory. It was just a small bespoke and repair shop where craftsmanship came before everything else.
When World War I broke out, Ernest served, got injured, and came back home. Even then, he kept working as a bootmaker while helping the war effort.
Through Wars and Hard Times
After Edwin’s death in 1935, Ernest and his son Stanley took over. Then came World War II, and things got tough. Leather became scarce, Stanley was drafted, and eventually Ernest had to close E. Woodford & Sons.
But the Woodford spirit didn’t disappear. In 1946, Stanley’s son Andrew was born (the fourth generation).
By the 1970s, Andrew moved to Northampton, the heart of English shoemaking, and launched Chancery Leatherwear. At its peak, that company produced a hundred thousand pairs a year and employed two hundred people.
Then came the 1980s. British manufacturing was hit hard by the rise of overseas production, and like many others, Andrew had to shut down his factory. The 1990s were rough for Northampton and factories were closing everywhere. But the story didn’t end there.
Related: If you want insight on true-to-size boots, see my full Dievier boots sizing breakdown.
The Rebirth of a Family Tradition
In 2016, Andrew’s son Chris (the fifth generation) decided to pick up where his family left off. He launched Crown Northampton, a brand that feels modern but still carries the same old-school pride and craftsmanship.
Chris rebuilt it from the ground up with a focus on quality, minimal design, and made-to-order production.
What I like most about Crown is how open they are about their history, both the good and the bad. They’re not pretending to be a new-age “heritage brand.” They’re exactly what they say they are: five generations of shoemakers who kept going through wars, industry collapse, and changing times.
What Makes the Brand Stand Out
Crown Northampton still makes everything in England, right in the town that gave the world names like Tricker’s, Joseph Cheaney, and Crockett & Jones.
And here’s something interesting: in the UK, you can’t use the word “Crown” in your company name unless you have permission from Buckingham Palace. They got that permission, even without a royal warrant.
Today, every pair is made to order. They handcraft their sneakers and boots using traditional stitchdown and handwelted methods, all done under one roof. No outsourcing, no shortcuts.
How to Measure Your Feet for Crown Northampton
With Crown Northampton, every pair is made to order, so getting your measurements right from the start really matters.
Start with a Professional Fitting
If you can, get your feet measured by a professional. It’s the simplest way to save yourself a headache.
Most people haven’t had their feet measured since high school, yet your feet actually change shape over time: arches drop, toes spread, and sometimes one foot ends up longer than the other.
A fitter uses tools like the Brannock device and knows how to read those numbers properly. They’ll also tell you if your width or instep might cause a tighter fit, which helps Crown’s team adjust your order more precisely.
Using a Brannock Device
If you can’t make it to a shop, the Brannock device is the gold standard for home measuring. You’ve probably seen
Here’s how to do it:
- Wear the socks you usually wear with your shoes.
Different sock thickness changes how a shoe feels, so pick what you’d actually wear with your Crowns.
- Stand up straight.
Your full weight helps your foot spread naturally, which gives you the most accurate reading.
- Place your heel snugly in the cup.
Then slide the arch and toe markers so they just touch your foot.
- Check both feet.
One is almost always a bit bigger. Go with the larger measurement when ordering.
- Note your length, width, and arch length.
The arch length especially helps with comfort. If that number doesn’t line up, the shoe might feel off even if the size looks right.
The Pen and Paper Method
If you don’t have access to a Brannock device, you can do it old-school with a piece of paper, a pen, and a ruler.
- Find a hard floor and tape the paper down. Carpet throws off the numbers.
- Wear your usual socks.
- Stand naturally with full weight on one foot at a time.
- Trace each foot carefully. Keep the pen vertical so you don’t cheat the outline.
- Measure from the heel to the longest toe and then across the widest part.
- Write both measurements down. Use the larger foot as your reference.
- Compare your measurements with the Crown Northampton size chart below.
By the way, feet swell a bit as the day goes on, so measure in the evening. It’s the best time to capture your “real-life” foot size.
A Few Extra Fitting Tips
- Don’t size down thinking the leather will stretch too much.
Crown uses high-quality leather that molds gently but doesn’t grow a whole size.
- Try on shoes at the end of the day when your feet are slightly larger.
- If you wear insoles or orthotics, factor those in. They take up space, so let the team know.
- Stick with your larger foot if there’s a small difference.
It’s much easier to pad a slightly loose shoe than to stretch a tight one.
Oh, and one last thing: Crown’s team genuinely cares about fit. If you’re not sure, send them your measurements or even a photo of your foot on the Brannock scale.
They’ll help fine-tune your size before your pair even hits the workbench. That’s the kind of detail that turns a good fit into a perfect one.
What do you think? Time to grab that ruler?
Final Thoughts
If there’s one thing I’ve learned from ordering made-to-order shoes, it’s that guessing your size never ends well.
I’ve done it before, clicked “buy”, and hoped for the best, and yeah, it didn’t go great. With Crown Northampton sizing, though, it’s worth slowing down and getting it right.
I mean, you’re investing in shoes that are built just for you, so it makes sense to start with solid measurements. Those few minutes, whether in store or at home, can make a huge difference in how your shoes feel day after day.
And if you ever feel unsure, reach out to Crown’s team. They’ve seen every kind of foot shape out there, and they actually want to help.
I once sent them my foot measurements and a quick photo, and they nailed the fit. No back-and-forth, no awkward returns, just a pair that felt spot-on straight out of the box.
Have you ever been surprised by how different your two feet are? I sure was.