BOBBIN HATS, late 19th/early 20th century, a rare pair of London Billingsgate Fish Market porters' ‘bobbin’ hats, one of the hats is known to have been owned by James Alfred Robinson ('Robo'), born on 18 December 1911, together with ephemera and photos of Robo wearing the hat, porter's licence and military soldier's release book, 32 x 27 x 14cm Robo worked at Billingsgate most of his life, retiring when the old site closed. He later moved to Cromer-on-Sea where his hat hung for a number of years and, by repute, a bird nested in it. The hat was stuffed with paper as it was handed down to Alfred from his father, as his head was smaller than his father's. This strange type of hat is thought to get its name from the ‘bobbin’ or payment, which the porters received from the buyers when delivering the fish to the distribution vehicles. Condition report: Age related wear to all the items, foxing to the paperwork. Hats come with the stands.