I often go to Louth, as regular visitors to my blog will know. On a warm evening in May a few photographer friends & I, plus Popcorn of course, had a stroll around Louth, to take a few photographs. My favourite part of Louth is a short, cobbled street called New Street.
Tucked away on one side of New Street is a really cool shop, cool in all senses of the word, Ian Bennett's Milliners Hat Shop. (No relation to myself by the way). I took a few photo's but of course the shop was closed. So, I made the decision to return on a weekday and see if I could be allowed to take photo's of the interior and, hopefully Ian at work also. Ian was most obliging and allowed me and Popcorn in.
It was one of the most intriguing photo visits I ever had, such an interesting place and a real treat to see a craftsman artisan at work.
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Ian Bennett's Milliners Shop in Louth, taken on my evening visit in May. |
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Red, white & blue are my favourite colour combinations so I had to take this. Even with some reflections, which I actually like! |
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Then on to my return visit in June, this is New Street and Ian's shop is on the left. |
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A view inside and a range of hand created hats. |
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This one would be very suitable for Royal Ascot, I'm sure. |
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Looking out, through Ian's shop to New Street. |
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Another stunning creation, and a glimpse of a photo of our late Queen Elizabeth II. |
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Ian proudly displays a photo of Queen Elizabeth as he made hats for Her Majesty!! |
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This is Ian at work on one of his creations. |
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These are for shaping hats during creation, I don't know their correct name. I should have asked, but Ian had customers. |
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Ian talking to a customer who required a hat to be created. |
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Ian makes/creates all kind of hats, here we see gentleman's Top Hats. |
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Not only was Ian Milliner to our Queen, he is one of the only two Milliners in the world still making hand made silk top hats! |
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And with my visit over, a final photo of this fascinating shop, tucked away in Louth. It's no wonder I keep going back to Louth as there's always something new and interesting I haven't seen before. Thank you Ian, for allowing me into your intriguing shop.
Nikon Z6ii plus 24 - 120mm lens.
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