No. 82: Jermyn Street, SW1
Jermyn Street, London, SW1. Photo © Roger Dean 2010
London in the Sixties – Donald Shaw, 1908:
Hats, it may be asserted without fear of contradiction, were the Alpha and Omega of dress amongst every section of the community; the postmen wore hats with their long scarlet coats; policemen wore hats with their swallow-tails; boys the height of fourpence in copper wore hats; the entire field at a cricket match wore flannels and hats; and the yokels and agricultural classes topped their smocks with hats. Not hats, be it understood, of the modern silky limited style, but huge extinguishers, with piles varying from solid beaver to the substance of a terriers coat.
[ The photograph above shows the sad sign on the door of 21a Jermyn Street SW1 the home of Bates the hatters since 1920. Forced out by the redevelopment plans of the Crown Estate they have relocated to the address below. R.D.]
Hilditch and Key/Bates,
73 Jermyn Street,
London, Sw1Y 6JD
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