Hat Works - A museum for all?

When I volunteer at Hat Works, i am often there when it is closed which for a museum geek like me is truly brilliant. Equally I love being there when the public are and listening to their comments and thoughts. One frequently heard is the 'I haven't visited before and am really pleasantly surprised" often the expectation that its just pretty ladies' hats ... my old gripe of hats' for the races! When in fact the hatting industry is a plethora of skills, techniques, materials etc. and was not an easy industry to be involved in.

So a brief look at the blockmakers, in many ways my favourite bit.

Manager's Office

Lathes and those gorgeous blocks

William Plant donated aspects of the factory to hat Works when they closed down.

Hat Blocks

Due to dropping my son off at Stanstead airport I took a minor detour in my 420 mile journey to visit Luton and Boon & Lane Blockmakers extraordinaire. www.blockmaker.com

Sadly I can't show pictures of the delights of the heavily dusty and wood shaven workspace but can share the new block. If you are ever in Luton, its a definite place to visit for all milliners, Steve and Alan are always welcoming just phone them beforehand.

Also went to Luton Museum to see what had changed and as its reminiscent of Bankfield Museum it feels right (very logical!)