Carr, Day & Martin have been manufacturing in the UK since 1765.  They hold the Royal Warrant for the supply of quality saddlery products to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II; their first Royal Warrant was granted in the reign of George IV, when it all began.  That year, Mr. Day a Doncaster hairdresser was given a recipe for making boot blacking by an old soldier (Martin) who had used the blacking to polish the boots of his superior officers.  Though footwear of the day incorporated beautiful workmanship and was costly, it was never polished (uppers were varnished, soles were oiled).  Realizing how good the product was, they opened a shop in London in 1770.  Eventually the firm owned stables and used splendid horses for their deliveries.  An interest in equestrian products ensued with their first being Belvoir Bar Soap.  It is still made to the original formula.   In 1923 the company was sold to Carr & Son, a firm which had been established in 1837. By 1950 the company was known as Carr, Day & Martin.