Not currently on display at the V&A

Hat

1940-49 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The earliest school uniforms were those of the charity schools, where they reminded the pupils of their dependence on the generosity of others. At non-charity schools, many of them founded in the nineteenth century, pupils usually had no uniforms, but wore their own clothes. From the late 19th century onward, such schools began to adopt complete uniforms in their own colours, often with a motto and school song, to give pupils a sense of school identity. Competition between schools at sport had popularised the wearing of identifying colours and garments by the teams, and many of the uniform garments were derived from sportswear, including gymslips, ties, scarves, caps and blazers.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Velour lined with artificial silk; petersham ribbon
Brief description
School uniform hat for a girl, Of blue-black velour; maroon and blue hatband with badge of female head in profile; motto KNOWLEDGE IS NOW NO MORE A FOUNTAIN SEALED; UK, 1940-49
Brand: Ridgmont; Blue-black velour; British, 1940s
Physical description
Girl's school uniform hat of blue-black velour with a curved brim, and a hat band of maroon and blue petersham ribbon with a bow to one side. The badge at the front of the hat band shows a female profile head in yellow and black on grey, within maroon and yellow concentric circles, with a motto and the initials GPDST. A hat elastic is attached to the artificial silk lining band.
Dimensions
  • Around inside base of crown circumference: 58.4cm
Production typeMass produced
Marks and inscriptions
  • ALL VELOUR/ "Ridgmont" MAKE/ 100% British
    Translation
    maker's mark
  • KNOWLEDGE IS NOW NO MORE A FOUNTAIN SEALED
    Translation
    School motto
  • GPDST
    Translation
    Girls Public Day School Trust
Credit line
Given by Susan Pittman
Object history
Worn by the donor, Susan Pittman née Mills, and marked with her name tape. Susan attended Hollington Park School for Young Ladies, a boarding school for girls in St Leonards on Sea.
(RF 88/1943)
Production
Ridgmont brand
Summary
The earliest school uniforms were those of the charity schools, where they reminded the pupils of their dependence on the generosity of others. At non-charity schools, many of them founded in the nineteenth century, pupils usually had no uniforms, but wore their own clothes. From the late 19th century onward, such schools began to adopt complete uniforms in their own colours, often with a motto and school song, to give pupils a sense of school identity. Competition between schools at sport had popularised the wearing of identifying colours and garments by the teams, and many of the uniform garments were derived from sportswear, including gymslips, ties, scarves, caps and blazers.
Collection
Accession number
MISC.1112-1991

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Record createdJuly 1, 2009
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