Stockport's Hat Works 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. READ MORE: 'As we see time and again, this government is off-loading problems and refusing to pick up the bill' 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 the Grade-II listed Wellington Mill in the town centre in 2000.
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