In 1863, Stockport warehouseman William John Battersby refused to change the date of his wedding, a decision that ultimately cost him his job. He could never have guessed that this would be a pivotal moment, not just in his life, but ultimately in the history of the British hat industry. Starting his own business in a rented building with just twenty-one employees, within twenty years he had a purpose-built factory bearing his name, which was to endure for over a century and export to every continent. A proud and industrious workforce helped the business prosper over generations and through two world wars, until the latter half of the twentieth century saw the once-great industry decline and finally fade away. Using a wonderful collection of contemporary, largely unseen photographs, accounts and documents, Battersby Hats: An Illustrated History shows the progress of the firm and also the private triumphs and tragedies of the family who ran it. This is a fascinating celebration of the efforts and dreams of the founder, his descendants, and the employees who sustained this world-famous firm throughout its existence.

About the Author
Rupert Battersby is the great grandson of the founder of Battersby Hats, and son of the last Managing Director. A Manchester University languages graduate, he served in Cheshire Constabulary for twenty-eight years. Married with two grown up children, he divides his time between his dogs, horses and family history research.


Book Information
ISBN 9781445663043
Author Rupert Battersby
Format Paperback
Page Count 128
Imprint Amberley Publishing
Publisher Amberley Publishing
Weight(grams) 309g