Hat Works facts for kids
Hat Works, Stockport
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| Cotton | |
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| Alternative names | Wellington Mill |
| Spinning Mill | |
| Structural system | Brick and cast iron fireproof mill |
| Location | Stockport, Greater Manchester, England |
| Owner | Thomas Marsland |
| Current tenants | The Hat Works Museum, residential |
| Construction | |
| Built | 1828 |
| Renovated |
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| Floor count | 7 |
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Listed Building – Grade II
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| Official name: Wellington Mill | |
| Designated: | 10 March 1975 |
| Reference #: | 1356847 |
The Hat Works is a cool museum in Stockport, Greater Manchester, England. It first opened its doors in the year 2000. Before that, smaller collections of hat-making tools were shown in other local museums.
The building where the museum is now, called Wellington Mill, has a long history. It was built way back in 1830–1831. Back then, it was a special kind of cotton spinning mill designed to be safe from fires. Later, in the 1890s, it became a factory for making hats. Today, it's a Grade II listed building, which means it's an important historical place. You can find it on the A6 road, between the town centre and Stockport railway station.
Contents
Stockport's Industrial Story
Stockport played a super important part in the UK's textile industry. First, it was known for making silk. In the early 1700s, England couldn't make good enough silk for weaving. So, they had to bring it in from Italy.
A man named John Lombe went to Italy around 1717. He secretly copied their special silk-spinning machines. When he came back, he got a patent for his design. But later, other towns like Stockport wanted to make silk too. In 1732, Stockport opened its first silk mill. This was the very first water-powered textile mill in the north-west of England!
More mills opened, and by 1769, about 2,000 people worked in the silk industry. Sometimes things were great, sometimes not so much, but the textile business kept going.
From Silk to Cotton Power
Stockport was also perfect for making cotton. It had good water power and lots of people who knew how to work in factories. In 1784, Samuel Oldknow came to Stockport. He helped local weavers make cotton cloth. Soon, cotton mills started popping up everywhere.
The first cotton mill in Stockport was Warren's mill. It used a water wheel for power. Other mills also used water from local rivers like the Tame and the River Goyt. Many silk mills even switched to making cotton because it was becoming so popular.
The Rise and Fall of Hat Making
Hat making started in the Stockport area way back in the 1500s. By the early 1800s, more and more hat makers were working here. Stockport became famous for making high-quality hats.
Over time, hat making changed from being done by hand to using machines. By the late 1800s, it was one of Stockport's biggest jobs. The area, along with nearby Denton, was the main place in the country for making hats. Other businesses that helped make hats, like those making blocks, trimmings, and leather, also grew.
However, the First World War made it hard to sell hats overseas. Then, the Great Depression in the 1930s and new fashion trends meant fewer people wanted hats. Even though over 3,000 people still worked in the hat industry in 1932, it started to shrink. Cheaper hats made elsewhere also hurt the business.
Wellington Mill's Journey
Wellington Mill was built in 1830 by a rich man named Thomas Marsland. His family made their money by printing patterns on cloth, especially a type called calico. Thomas Marsland bought the land next to his printing works to build the mill.
When the mill was finished, Thomas Marsland worked there with two of his sons-in-law. Later, another son-in-law joined the business. Over the years, different family members owned and ran the mill. In 1872, a company called John and George Walthew took over. They used the mill for spinning and doubling cotton thread.
In 1895, a hat-making company called Ward Brothers bought the mill. They stayed there until the 1930s. A tall, round chimney, about 200 feet (61 m) high, was added to the mill in 1860.
The Mill Building's Design
The Wellington Mill building you see today is part of what was once a bigger industrial area. It's a 7-and-a-half-storey building. It was built to be very strong and safe from fires. It had a special frame made of cast iron. This iron frame supported brick arches that formed the floors. Sand was put on top of these arches, and then wooden floors were laid. This design helped stop fires from spreading.
The ground floor was a bit taller than the others. Each floor had large windows, about 6-foot (1.8 m) by 4-foot-6-inch (1.37 m), with stone sills. The roof was made of blue Welsh slate and had a special cast-iron support system.
How the Mill Was Powered
The mill used a powerful steam engine to run its machines. The original engine house and a later one are no longer there. The first engine was a 65-horsepower beam engine. It was replaced by a bigger one in 1835. Water was important for the steam engine to work.
The tall, round chimney you can still see was built in 1860. It helped the steam engines work by providing a strong draft for the boilers. Inside the mill, a main power shaft went through all the floors. This shaft then connected to other smaller shafts that powered the spinning machines.
Even though we don't have records of the exact spinning machines used, the mill's size suggests it was built for modern "self-acting spinning mules." These machines were invented in 1825 and made spinning much faster.
Ward Brothers and Hat Making
Ward Brothers moved into Wellington Mill in 1895 and stayed until the 1930s. Sarah Ward had started her hat business way back in 1848. Ward Brothers were experts in finishing and decorating hats. They bought the basic wool hat shapes from other factories in Denton and Stockport. This meant they didn't need the "wet-end" parts of a hat factory.
They didn't need to change the cotton mill much. They did add a central staircase and a new front to the eastern side of the building. Ward Brothers made all sorts of hats, including stiff felt hats, soft felt hats, men's straw hats, and even hats for children.
The Hat Works Museum Today
In 1966, some of the biggest hat makers in the area joined together to form a company called Associated British Hat Manufacturers. Eventually, only two factories were left making hats: Christy & Co and Wilson's. Wilson's factory closed in 1980, and Christy's factory closed in 1997. This brought an end to over 400 years of hat making in the Stockport area.
The Hat Works museum was created to remember this important industry. It's the only museum in the UK completely dedicated to the history of hat making!
Images for kids
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The Wellington Mill from the bus station
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Wellington Mill, ground floor, Daw Bank
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The Wellington Mill and Garrick Theatre
entrance.jpg)
See also
- Listed buildings in Stockport
- List of mills in Stockport
