A Boy Scout’s hat, Newcastle-under-Lyme
This Boy Scouts cap was made by Umbro and worn by Peter Bradshaw during the 1960's.
A 'Sister Dora' Nurse's Cap
This cap was made by the company 'Sister Dora' which would have taken its name from the well loved Anglican nun and nurse Sister Dora from Walsall (1832-1878).
This type of small white cap was worn ...
Baby’s Bonnet, late Victorian / early 20th century
This bonnet is handmade with a hand sewn ‘M’ on the side, possibly the baby's initial.
The bonnet is simple with no decoration or detail meaning it was probably an everyday bonnet.
Bonnet’s were ...
Baby’s Satin Bonnet, 19th century
This baby’s bonnet is made out of satin and is trimmed in down feather and was possibly used as a Christening bonnet. The feather down has been mostly lost over the years with just a small amount of the ...
Baby's Bonnet
This bonnet was possibly handmade and used for Christenings or formal occasions. It has broderie anglaise along the neck and the long ribbon ties were used for extra decoration, as they would have been ...
Bicorn Hat, Victorian
The bicorn developed from the tricorn hat and is mostly associated with Napoléon Bonaparte, although most military generals and officers in Europe and America wore it throughout the nineteenth and ...
Black Bowler Hat
The bowler hat was originally made in 1848 and was considered sturdier than the top hat, (as it could easily be knocked off and damaged).
The first bowler hat was originally made by brothers Thomas ...
Black Straw Poke Bonnet, c.1850-1880
This example is made out of straw and is trimmed in lace and feathers.
A beautiful floral decoration on the left hand side breaks up the dark colouring and makes it less formal.
The cotton ribbon ...
Blue Girl Guides Cap, 1990s
The Girls Guides started as a side organisation from the Boy Scouts. Lord Robert Baden-Powell set up a camp for boys in 1907 at Brownsea Island in Dorset to test his scouting ideas.
By 1908 girls started ...
C Rennatt Top Hat, Newcastle-under-Lyme, c.1885-1910
Charles Rennatt was born in 1861 and on the 1901 census he is found to be living at 16 Red Lion Square, Newcastle-under-Lyme which is where we believe his shop was also located.
He is listed as being ...
Graduation Cap
This is the graduation cap worn by Florence G. Handley in 1910 after she had graduated from university.
Ladies Black Hat, 1940s
Hats during World war II were dubbed the ‘resistance piece’ by the French against Nazi occupation.
This was because hat materials were not rationed so feathers, veiling and artificial flowers were ...
Ladies Black Hat, c.1910
This type of hat was popular in the Edwardian era.
This hat belonged to the donors grandmother Catherine Leighton from Hanchurch and would have been worn in around 1910.
It is a black straw hat, ...
Ladies Black Hat, c.1910
The style of the hat is simple with small feathers used for decoration.
Ladies Black 'Peach Basket' Hat
'Peach basket' hats got their name simply because they looked like upturned fruit baskets.
The first hats of this type were worn in 1908. The became popular again in the 1930s and mid-1950s.
This ...
Ladies Black Picture Hat, c.1910-1930
A 'Picture hat' is a hat with a wide brim like this one.
This hat belonged to the donor's grandmother Mrs Catherine Leighton.
It is made of black straw and is decorated with black ostrich feathers....
Ladies Lilac hat, c.1930-1950
This hat is made of straw and is decorated with a sheer fabric and small bunches of artificial flowers.
Officers British Red Cross Beret, c.1940-60
This beret was part of the uniform for an officer in the Red Cross and has a fanned ribbon positioned at the front.
It was worn by Mrs H M Witty MBE during her time with the British Red Cross.