Bridport Museum has two new exciting exhibitions to reveal this month. The first is ‘The Heyday of Hats’ to celebrate the town’s popular Hat Festival, which this year runs from 14th-16th September.
The Museum has been lucky enough to borrow more hats from the collection of Jay Ann Knox. Jay owns so many that there is a completely different selection this year.
Jay says: ‘I am very grateful to the museum and the people of Bridport for allowing me to share part of my collection with them again this year. I have chosen to display hats which are very colourful to reflect two wonderful celebrations this year – the Golden Jubilee of our beloved Queen Elizabeth II and the Olympic Games. Many of the cocktail hats are from the accession year of the Queen and their frivolity and palette were produced as celebration of the new reign. I hope they convey a little of the excitement that was felt at that time to our latter day audience.’
Museum Curator Emily Hicks, says: ‘Thank you so much to Jay for her generosity in allowing us to share these stunning examples of glamorous 20th Century millinery. I hope everyone enjoys visiting the exhibition as much as I have enjoyed putting it together.’
The Museum is also lucky enough to have been lent a beautiful fireman’s helmet which will also go on display. The helmet belong to Edward Seaman Reynolds, a long-standing Bridport volunteer fireman at the beginning of the 20th Century. This will be accompanied by a collection of photographs from the Museum’s collection.
On Saturday 15th September Martin Cox, an avid collector of fire brigade memorabilia, will be at the Museum with some of his collection, allowing the public to chat with him and take a closer look.
Both these exhibitions are free, and shouldn’t be missed!
