Welsh costume: woman's hat, 19th century

Description

Broad-brimmed Welsh hat dating from the second half of the nineteenth century.

The original owner of this hat was a Mrs Edwards of Llanilar (born c. 1850). Hats such as these would have been fashionable during her youth but fell increasingly out of favour as the century progressed. By the end of the nineteenth century they would have been something of a curiosity, reserved mainly for St David's Day and other patriotic occasions. A few elderly women, however, remained attached to the hats of their youth and continued to wear them on occasions as part of their 'best' attire. As an elderly lady, Mrs Edwards, dressed in her Welsh hat, was seemingly taken by her daughters on a train trip to a local town (presumably Aberystwyth) as a special treat. According to the surviving anecdotal evidence, whilst in town, they were accosted by a group of local boys who asked whether they were going to the races. One of the boys enquired where the races were being held and another jokingly replied 'Around the brim of the old lady's hat'. Mrs Edwards was so upset that she immediately went into a local shop to purchase a more fashionable bonnet. It would appear that she resolved there and then never to wear the hat again. The hat was donated to Ceredigion Museum many years later by a member of her family.

Description based on information supplied by Ceredigion Museum.