Luxury footwear and accessories specialist Oliver Sweeney has released its limited edition Londinium LXIII shoe.  Made to order, the Londinium features a heel block inserted with a slice of ancient oak from the ruins of the original Roman-built London Bridge. The quality leather shoes are a unique item, which fuse British design and Italian workmanship.

In 1997, an excavation on the embankment of the River Thames led to the discovery of the Roman ruins of London Bridge maintained in a remarkable condition. This unusual level of preservation was a result of a natural anaerobic procedure, which enveloped the oak timber in a protective blanket. Through dendrochronological testing, experts pinpointed the year of the bridge’s construction as 63AD and this date became the inspiration for the name Londinium LXIII. The Roman numerals LXIII (63) are lasered into the oak heel and on the toe of the shoe. The Roman eagle, a symbol of Roman strength, has been lasered onto the toe which is said to represent the quality and durability of the shoe’s construction.
   

Only 75 pairs of the Londinium LXIII shoe will be available, each presented in a luxury wooden box, branded by a hot iron with the image of the Roman eagle and accompanied by a pair of wooden shoetrees and a certificate of authenticity.  Priced at £750, the Londinium LXIII will be made to order and will take twelve weeks to produce.