Top Hat

We have been donated this fabulous top hat which belonged to Lucy Croxall.

Lucy was a former head teacher of Bramston School and is a prominent figure in Witham history. Lucy was a member of the Witham Operatic Society where she became their honorary pianist, and an active member of the congregation of St Nicolas Church.

This top hat was owned and used by Lucy in her operatic days and is in excellent condition. This is one of a number of items kindly donated to Witham Town Council.

Witham historian Janet Gyford includes the transcript of an interview with the Croxall sisters on her website: https://www.janetgyford.com/interviews/tape-29-miss-lucy-croxall-and-miss-eva-hayes-nee-croxall-sides-1-and-2/ More information on the Croxall family is also available on Janet's website here: https://www.janetgyford.com/people/croxall-family/ 

You can listen to the above interview on the Essex Records Office website: https://www.essexarchivesonline.co.uk/result_details.aspx?ThisRecordsOffSet=2&id=1104737