The Bank of England Museum

Hats at the Museum

The Bank of England Museum has a number of hats in their permanent collection.

Above left: Louisa Ings, porter at the BoE and the first woman messenger during WW1 - her Messengers hat is on permanent display in the Museum.
Above right: drawing of the uniform worn by women porters at the BoE 1917-1921

The Bank of England Museum, located within the Bank of England, is home to a collection of eclectic items relating to the history of the Bank since the Bank's foundation in 1694 to the present day. ‘Beyond the Brim: The Heritage of Hat Making’ will be featured in the Museum’s central space which is a beautiful reconstruction of the 18th-century Stock Office designed by the famous architect Sir John Soane.  You can also see the wonderful mosaic floor designed by Boris Anrep in the museum entrance and many of John Soane’s architectural features within the museum such as the caryatids as well as the iconic exterior wall surrounding the Bank. 

 The Museum will be collaborating with the British Hat Guild to host daily millinery demonstrations in the space and will showcase some of the hats in the museum collection.  The museum is keen to bring new perspectives on craft to highlight the Bank of England’s art and design history but also the history of trade within the City of London in particular the livery companies many of whom, like the Worshipful Company of Feltmakers, have championed traditional crafts.

www.bankofengland.co.uk/museum