William Dawson, whose label is attached to one of these shoes, was one of the first shopkeepers who had a shop in Burlington Arcade, in the fashionable London district of Mayfair. The Arcade was the world's first shopping arcade, opening in 1819, and was built for Lord George Cavendish who wished it to be "for the gratification of the public and to give employment to industrious females". It still has its own security force, the Beadles, originally installed by Lord Cavendish to enforce a code of behaviour which forbade whistling, running, singing, babies' prams, playing musical instruments, carrying large parcels or opening umbrellas.

That William Dawson also had some form of royal warranty (the supply of goods to the royal household) further emphasises that these shoes would originally have been both expensive and exclusive in origin.