johnbrennan

Each year in my house we had the ceremony of the HAT! My father would begin the process of buying a new hat and it took some weeks of trying on and deciding on what style and colour to wear. He would have had a field day in this shop.

Swordscookie Wonder if he ever purchased a Falcon Make or a Battersby?

National Library of Ireland on The Commons He might have before I was born but if there was an Irish hat manfacturers then he would have gone for that.

I think the ancient art of hat wearing should be brought back to the country. A good wide brimmed Fedora doubles as a personal umbrella on a wet day.

I must agree with Joefuz on that score. Hats are a much neglected accessory these days, except by the country music crowd.

Contrast this with the couple from Ballyvaughan? Affluent, well fed, well shod, well dressed, at ease with the camera and the children had a future to look forward to.

The little boy looks animated and cheerful - quite unusual in photographs of this era. Is that a cricket ball he's holding? Maybe he went on to become a world-class cricketer...

Old children's portrait trick: a busy little guy will at least keep his hands still if you give him a ball to hold.

Whereas the little guy(?) on the cushion looks about ready to peg the stuffed animal at the photographer...

Very nice, I really like the little boy.

for Dainty Lingerie no less!! Carol

Based on the fact that it's on a junction, and the ground slopes steeply right to left, I'm going to guess that this shop is at 12 Broad Street. If so, the shop is long gone, replaced by an ugly cubic thing.

I would say that the local Horrockses sales, marketing and merchantising team paid for this photograph. They probably won the annual marketing prize for their efforts here!!

They were a right crowd of Horrockes and thats for sure. What a wonderful shot, not only of the gentleman and his infant son in whom he has such pride but of the display and variety he has in his shop and windows. Blasts from the past - gingham, voile, overalls, flannelettes - this one has it all including the picture on display of the old lady with the loom.

Swordscookie I know! The only thing missing is Winceyette... Or is it? Screwing in monocle, and having another look!