Here we have a top hat belonging to one of the Victoria Cross awardees at Rorke’s Drift.
William Jones was a private soldier born in 1839 and was approximately 39 years old at the time of the Zulu War, he was awarded his Victoria Cross for defending a field hospital whilst under attack with Robert Jones VC.
This hat was made by Walter Barnard and Son at 97 Jermyn Street, St James, London. It bears their makers mark and the stamp above it reading ‘EXTRA QUALITY’.
The hat is made from a velvet outer layer with an inner lining made of silk with a paper sweatband.
This top hat comes in its leather case, the lid of the case is named ‘William Jones VC’ and bears a small brass plaque with the inscription ‘Wild West Show’.
~ Dimensions ~
The top hat is 11 inches (28 cm) at its widest.
The top hat is 6 inches 15 cm) tall.
The top hat weighs 250 g.
The case is 14 inches (13.5 cm) wide at its widest
The case is 10 inches (25.5 cm) high.
The set weighs 1.7 Kg.
~ Condition ~
The top hat is in wonderful condition for its age considering the fragility of the material. The silk inner is in wonderful condition, the velvet outer has a few small patches of wear and a small area where the fabric has frayed on the top edge of the hat.
The cases leather outer layer has some wear and damage from dry conditions but is in good shape.
The inner layer is a textured paper and is complete and in good condition.