Gold silk top hat worn by Harry Jones, ‘Mr Top Hat’
Harry was the innkeeper at the Kings Arms Hotel, High Street, Malmesbury, from 1890-1908 and a well-known character in the town
Harry was born in 1853 and died in 1911. He was initially landlord of the then Railway Hotel (later the Flying Monk pub.) He took over the Kings Arms on the death of his father. One of his visitors was Edward VII. Harry ran a horse bus service from Malmesbury railway station into town, a good way of catching potential trade!
He was a member of the town council, being Mayor of Malmesbury in 1885.
Harry was aware of his image and was a good publicist. He corresponded with the great and the good, there are many photos, including with local dignitaries, postcards were produced and he republished a newspaper article about himself as a small book. Nowadays he would undoubtedly have been active on social media!
Harry’s hat
Harry was renowned for wearing a top hat and also brightly coloured waistcoats. He was also the first to wear robes of office as Mayor of Malmesbury.
His hat was enough to represent Harry, so much so that letters addressed just to “Mr Top Hat, Wiltshire” apparently used to get through to him
He bought the hat from F Crompton, Linen Drapers and Outfitter, who was based in Malmesbury High Street until 1920 on the site of the current Coffee#1. It was made by the milliner Christy of London
