Set up in 1977, the North West Film Archive preserves moving images made in or about Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Cheshire, Merseyside and Cumbria and offers a variety of access services to users in the public, academic and commercial sectors.
This film is part of Free
Hat from a Rabbit
How Stockport got ahead in hatting - the story of the rise and fall of a North West industry.
From the collection of:
Overview
This quirky and informative film was shot during the last days of the once-mighty Stockport hatting industry. It reveals how the town's hat manufacturers flourished in the 19th century, but then came the 20th century decline in hat wearing. This decline would lead to the end of hat making in Stockport, but here we see some of the traditional hat making processes - a fine record of a lost industry.
This film was produced by undergraduate film students at Manchester Polytechnic, now Manchester Metropolitan University.
Related
Watch for free
Glengarry Topical Film No. 18 Glengarry Topical Film No. 18
Amateur film 1934 17 mins Silent Location: Stockport
Take to the skies or take to the water: a variety of popular North West events from 1934.
Watch for free
The Manufacture of Fur Felt Hats The Manufacture of Fur Felt Hats
Documentary 1910 15 mins Silent Location: Stockport
From furry buns to natty titfers: workers at Jackson's in Stockport demonstrate traditional skills of hat making.
Watch for free
Dog Show Classes Dog Show Classes
Amateur film 1932 5 mins Silent Location: Stockport
Now don't laugh! A dog show is a serious matter for these young owners and their pets.
Watch for free
Cheshire Territorials at Abergaveny Cheshire Territorials at Abergaveny
Non-Fiction 1913 6 mins Silent Location: Stockport
A holiday of sorts for Stockport army reserves, fitting high-jinks between drills over two weeks of summer training in South Wales.
Watch for free
Workers Leaving T & W Lees of Stockport (1901) Workers Leaving T & W Lees of Stockport (1901)
Non-Fiction 1901 2 mins Silent Location: Stockport
An orderly exit from one of the biggest hat factories in Edwardian Stockport.
Watch for free
Workers at India Mills, Stockport (1900) Workers at India Mills, Stockport (1900)
Non-Fiction 1900 1 mins Silent Location: Stockport
Spinners and weavers jostle through the exit of one of Stockport’s largest textile mills.
Watch for free
Richard Linklater Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025 Richard Linklater Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025
Inside Film 2025 69 mins
Richard Linklater discusses his remarkable and wide-ranging body of work, including Blue Moon and Nouvelle Vague.
Watch for free
Daniel Day-Lewis Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025 Daniel Day-Lewis Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025
Inside Film 2025 73 mins
Daniel Day-Lewis, the ultimate actor’s actor discusses his career in conversation with Mark Kermode.
Watch for free
Jon M. Chu: The Wizard of Wicked Jon M. Chu: The Wizard of Wicked
Inside Film 2025 49 mins
Director Jon M. Chu discusses his ground-breaking vision of Oz.
Watch for free
Yorgos Lanthimos Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025 Yorgos Lanthimos Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025
Inside Film 2025 66 mins
Yorgos Lanthimos sits down with Succession creator Jesse Armstrong to reveal the secret ingredients that underpin his uniquely weird brand of satire.
Watch for free
Islands - Extended Q&A Islands - Extended Q&A
Inside Film 2025 31 mins
Director Jan Ole Gerster and actor Sam Riley talk about Islands, a thriller with noirish undertones and echoes of Hitchcock and Highsmith.
Watch for free
Lynne Ramsay Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025 Lynne Ramsay Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025
Inside Film 2025 67 mins
Lynne Ramsay discusses her singular career populated by visually intoxicating, ground-breaking and provocative films.