Tameside Industries: Hatting and Felting

Key Stage 1, 2 & 3

Portland Basin Museum

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What’s Involved

Timings: 2 hour facilitated workshop (timings may be adjusted slightly eg. for full day bookings)
Venue: Portland Basin Museum
Costs: £111.50 for TMBC schools / £122 for non-TMBC schools

Participants will be introduced to one of Tameside most important trades; hatting! Following an introduction to the industry and the impact of the Industrial Revolution on the area, participants will be able to spend some time trying on hats to provide them with inspiration for the next part of the workshop.

Following traditional hatting templates participants will manipulate a sheet of paper into a hat working a 2D material into a 3D model using much the same techniques as our 18th century predecessors.

Hats made in Tameside were mostly made from felt so in the final part of the workshop participants will be able to make and design their own felt sheet. Again they will use traditional techniques to create their own colourful felt design to take back to school.

Learning Opportunities

  • Pupils will improve their mastery of art and design techniques.
  • Pupils will learn about significant events, people and places in their own locality.

Extend Your Experience

At the museum: you can book to combine with a second workshop for a facilitated full day experience.
At school: we will send you some ideas for pre-and post- visit activities when you book this workshop. Plus, why not see if there is a Museum in a Box that links to your class topics.

Venue information

This workshop is delivered at Portland Basin Museum:

  • There is free onsite parking for coaches – please note the car park has a cobbled surface.
  • Please let us know if you would like your class to eat lunch at the museum and we will provide you with a space.
  • There is a museum shop where your class is welcome to make purchases under supervision or we can arrange goody bags in advance.
  • A site risk assessment is available on request.