Tring - its Straw Plaits and Hats

Straw Plaiting Doll from Tring

Some of the most frequently visited pages on the Genealogy in Hertfordshire web site relate to the straw plait industry - perhaps because many people look up their Hertfordshire ancestors in the census (particularly the earlier years) and find that the women and children in the household made straw plait.

Austin Straw Splitter

One of the earliest references to straw plait relates to a market where it was sold in Tring, and the famous Austin straw splitter was made by a carpenter in the town, so it is appropriate that on 19th September Veronica Main will be giving a talk Tring - its Plaits and Hats to the Tring & District Local History & Museum Society. (7.30 for 8.00 in the Anglican/Methodist Church Hall).

I have created a permanent link to the main straw plaiting page www.hertfordshire-genealogy.co.uk/links/straw-plait.htm which you should use if you want to link to the site.

Straw Platting in Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire

A straw plaiting peg doll
from Tring circa 1895

Straw plaiting was something women and children could do at home to supplement the family income and in many Hertfordshire villages, particularly around the St Albans area, it was one of the commonest occupations in the mid 19th century. Much of the plait was uses to make hats in St Albans and Luton. If your ancestor was a farm labourer in the area 150 years of so ago his wife may well have plaited straw, and his children as well.

The FindMyPast blog has recently published the following request for information.

‘Are you, were you, or do you know, a master hat–maker? If yes, we tip our caps to you, and hope that you might have something to share… We’re currently researching the hatting and straw plaiting industry in southern England - the commercial hub was in Luton, but the trade was also vitally important to people throughout Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Essex. If you, or anyone in your family, worked in the trade and would like to share your memories or any photographs, we would love to hear from you – you can contact the author directly at katie.carmichael@english-heritage.org.uk’

If you add a comment below about your straw plaiting or hat making ancestors I will forward the details to Katie.