Straw plaiters, c.1910.

Social History (Museum of St Albans)

Copy photograph of an original monochome photographic print showing two girls plaiting straw. Location and exact date unknown but the girls dress suggests that this photograph appears to have been taken in the early 20th century, c.1910. Straw plaiting for the hat making industry was the most widespread cottage industry in nineteenth century Hertfordshire. Plaiting had been taking place for hundreds of years but at this time the plait was in great demand and different people were involved in each stage of the process; the harvest of local straw, sorting into sizes, splitting, plaiting and dyeing. Many women and children from poor families plaited straw at every possible moment as working class men often did not earn enough to support their family. The women sold the finished plait to buyers for the hat industry at the weekly St Albans plait market. Some women sold the plait to agents who came to their homes. The straw plait was sewn into hats at one of the many hat factories in St Albans. These factories were mostly around Victoria Street and Marlborough Road. By the 1930s most of the factories had closed down due to foriegn competition and changes in fashion.

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