Felt-Hatting in Bristol & South Gloucestershire 2: the Fall

At the end of the eighteenth century, Bristol & South Gloucestershire were home to a flourishing felt hat industry. It was the major employer in many villages and exports ran into tens of thousands.

But then markets were lost, damaging strikes drove the major employers away, technology and fashions changed. By the last quarter of the nineteenth century the local industry was dead.

Here Dr Heal tells the story of this decline. Now out of print but may still be available direct from the author, on Amazon, or second hand.

About the Author

Dr Chris Heal is a retired businessman who completed a doctoral submission to the University of Bristol on The Felt Hat Industry of Bristol and South Gloucestershire, 1530-1909. For further relaxation, he makes individual pieces of oak furniture adapted from items made before 1850 and found in public and private collections.