Hats off to museum’s £100k refit
STOCKPORT’S Hat Museum has reopened after a £100,000 refurbishment.
Work has taken place over the past four years to update and improve the building and displays.
There are now more than 1,300 objects on display for visitors to enjoy.
Garments and other objects from Stockport’s museum stores are also on display for the first time.
Stockport became a key location for hatting in the 17th century and the industry was once the town’s main employer.
With the rivers Tame, Goyt and Mersey flowing through the town, it was an ideal place for hatting which required lots of water to create hats and dispose of the waste during production, according to staff at the museum.
During a 60-year boom in hatting from 1875, Stockport was home to a total of 30 major hat factories.
Stockport Hat Works took up residence in the Grade-II listed Wellington Mill in the town centre in 2000.
The building which was previously used for cotton spinning.
Council leader Mark Hunter told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “It’s a great day for us in Stockport.
“The Hat Works is a unique thing here, there isn’t another one anywhere else in the country and we’re very proud of our heritage.
“It’s great that it’s finally reopened, there are lots of displays and we expect there to be a lot of interest in it.
“With all the good things that are happening for the future such as the regeneration and investment in our town, it’s important to remember where we’ve come from and Stockport is a town with a proud heritage and we’ve never lost that connection. There’s a palpable buzz around Stockport and people want to be part of it.”
The Hat Works is used as a creative hub for groups such as mental health charity Arc, which offers classes in the building.
Jacqui Wood, chief executive of Arc, said: “It’s brilliant for us that it’s fully reopen again, there are loads of people coming in to see the museum who are then finding out about the work we do.
“It’s going to help raise awareness of the benefits of creativity to mental health.”
Stockport is preparing to celebrate its Town of Culture weekend on March 23 and 24, where residents can enjoy more than 50 events for free around the town including music, movement, heritage and the arts.
Councillor Frankie Singleton, cabinet member for communities, culture and sport at Stockport council, said: “The reopening of the Hat Works is perfectly timed just before Stockport’s Town of Culture Weekender.
“The Hat Works is steeped in history and will be open over the town of culture weekender with free entry for everyone as we celebrate a weekend of music, movement, heritage and the arts.
“Following the extensive refurbishment, it is first time in four years that the whole of museum has been open.
“It has been completely transformed and is now bursting with colour, textures, stories and engaging displays with many items displayed for the first time. It is the perfect place for people of all ages to see Stockport’s hatting heritage.”