At its manufacturing peak, Stockport (near Manchester) had as many as 30 hat factories. Of course, the days when most men wore hats are gone, and the North has now de-industrialized, too. I’ve written before in this website about industrial heritage in the North, such as the Quarry Bank Mill, or the Bolton Steam museum.
I recently visited the Hat Works, a former factory in Stockport, now turned museum. The museum was very well put together, explaning the manufacturing process of hats in detail. Interesting examples include how the usage of mercury would create health problems to some workers, leading to behavior that led to the expression “mad as a hatter”. The guide was the amazing Lisa Ward, who tells her story to the BBC here.
Close to the museum, stands also the remarkable 1840 stockport railway viaduct, and WWII-era air raid shelters which protected locals during the Blitz.
