Stockport Hat Museum has re-opened with a new look following a £300,000 refurbishment scheme. 

The museum 're-launched' on Thursday 21 March, with a revamped exhibition floor, entrance improvements, and changes to the cafe and reception areas. 

It is the first time in four years that the entire museum has been open to the public. This weekend will be a good opportunity to make the most of it, too, as the museum offers free entry to visitors as part of Town of Culture celebrations. 

The refurbishment has been wide-ranging. 

On the exhibition floor, for example, visitors can now expect a new layout aimed at 'improving flow' - perusing the history of hats has never been easier. 

L-R Cllr Mark Hunter, Georgia Tennant and Tony Burns (Image via MC Construction)

The stud partition walls have been removed, and new displays, activity stations and graphic art have all been introduced, showcasing hundreds of images and objects in the museum's collection.

Further still, new spaces - such as a collections room, activity room, storage and meeting facilities - have all been introduced. 

In all, visitors can expect to see more than 1300 hats and related objects, covering the length and breadth of hatting history.

Speaking at the opening ceremony on 21 March, Cllr Mark Hunter, leader of Stockport Council, said: "The reopening of the Hat Works Museum, which traces how important hatting was to the town's initial rise in the industrial revolution, is now part of the town's 'mighty metamorphosis'."

Included in the collection is the Duke of Wellington's bicorn hat! (Image - public domain / painting by Thomas Lawrence, 1815)

Councillor Frankie Singleton, cabinet member for communities, culture and sport at Stockport Council, similarly said the museum had been "completely transformed". 

"The building work has been fantastic in opening up space and improving the layout of the museum", she said. 

"We're excited to reopen to the public and breathe new life into our wonderful attraction."

The construction work was done by Salford-based firm MC Construction. 

Russ Forshaw, MC's managing director, said: "We're thrilled to have been involved with the refurbishment of a highly-regarded and popular venue to enhance the visitor experience.

"It involved careful planning to ensure the museum's displays were taken good care of."

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