Stockport Rd, Denton
This building was constructed in two distinct parts of Flemish-bond brick, three-storeys high with a slate roof, both of which were originally dwellings. The older and larger part to the right (Nos. 53 and 55, later 51 to 55 after enlargement) has a central entrance and staircase. The door has six panels with a semi-circular fanlight above. There are three-quarter columns on either side of the door that support an open pediment. The two ground floor, three first floor and three second floor windows have replacement casement windows with original wedge lintels of stone and stone sills. It is likely that the originals were sliding sash windows in the Georgian style. There is a gable chimney stack at each end and there is a cornice at eaves level. The gable end to the right has been rendered. There is a small two-storey wing to the rear, No. 57, which is accessed from the entrance to the right.

Nos. 53 and 55 are listed Grade II, List Entry No. 1163339.

The later extension to the left, No. 51, has similar windows raised above a basement level and there is a gable chimney stack to the left. The building to the left of Broadbent's Hat Works is the Nottingham Castle, now the Toll Point.

A tithe map of Denton, dated 1849, shows the building to have been extant at that time and an Ordnance map of 1892 describes it as a hat manufactory.

Slater's Trade Directory for 1903 does not list No. 51 but No. 53 was a messuage occupied by Mrs Mary Jane Bailey (widow of Frederick Bailey). No. 55 was listed as Bailey Brothers (sons of Frederick Bailey), Hat Manufacturers, and No. 57 was listed as Lees Broadbent, Hat Manufacturers.

The Directory for 1909 lists No. 53 as a messuage occupied by Mrs Mary Jane Bailey, No. 55 was listed as William Broadbent (son of Lees Broadbent), Hat Manufacturers and No. 57 was listed as Lees Broadbent & Sons.

The Directory for 1911 lists No. 51A as Charles Clermont, a Manufacturer of Fancy Hats (that is, ladies' hats), No. 51 was occupied by Sugden & Cooke, Cabinet Makers, No. 55 was occupied by William Broadbent, Hat Manufacturers, and No. 57 was occupied by Lees Broadbent & Sons, Hat Manufacturers, who was also connected to the telephone network.

Slater's Trade Directory for 1914 does not list Nos. 51 and 51A but No. 53 was a messuage occupied by Misses Lizzie and Edith Bailey (daughters of Frederick Bailey, their mother having died). No. 55 was listed as William Broadbent, Hat Manufacturers and No. 57 was listed as Lees Broadbent & Sons, Hat Manufacturers.

By 1922 the building was occupied by the B.H.W. Manufacturing Company (Bradley, Harrison and Wadsworth) who named it Britannia Works. This company described itself as ‘hat leather stitchers’ and it manufactured hatters' sundries, such as hat linings. At some point between 1982 and 1984 the B.H.W. Manufacturing Company left the building.

By the time of World War II, F L Lockyer & Co, a firm of glove manufacturers and chamois leather dressers, had moved into No. 55A. This business was owned by a Mrs Lockyer who lived at Glastonbury, Somerset, and her father-in-law, John Wilkinson, managed it for her. Towards the end of the war John gave up managing the business on his own and he was joined by a company called McFail and Kay of Woodley, Cheshire. F L Lockyer & Co was wound up in 1954. However, an associated company called F L Lockyer Ltd based at Top Mill, Woodley, remained in business until 1970 when it too was wound up.

By 1980, a firm called Clayton (Stationery & Filing Equipment) Ltd had moved into No. 51

In the first view of the building shown below, the two distinct parts can be seen, the shorter left-hand end was the location of Nos. 51 and 53, while the blue Georgian style entrance door in the longer right-hand end accessed Nos. 51 to 55 and the black entrance door on the right accessed No. 57. The design of the latter entrance suggests that it accessed the rear of the building.

The building is of significant architectural merit because it was built using hand-made bricks with a Flemish Bond, that is, the walls consists of alternating headers and stretchers along each course with the headers centred on the stretchers above and below. It is also important to note that it was constructed with contrasting brick colours, the stretchers being darker than the headers. The style of the building suggests that it dates from the second quarter of the 19th century.

Lees Broadbent was born at Denton in 1842. He married Mary Marlor at Manchester, St John, in 1865. Mary Marlor is understood to be the daughter of James Marlor (Hat Master) and Hannah Bowden.
Frederick Bailey was born at Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, in 1843. He married Mary Jane Jennings at an Ashton-u-Lyne in 1865.

It is understood that this decoration of the premises may be connected with the British Empire Exhibition held from the 23 Apr 1924-31 Oct 1925. The principal purpose of this exhibition was to promote trade and strengthen bonds.	The premises decorated for the occasion of the coronation of King George VI on the 12 May 1937. Credit: A Arrowsmith
A view inside the works when it was occupied by B.H.W. Manufacturing Co, 1930s. Credit: A Arrowsmith	Broadbent's Hat Works, 1980s. Credit: A Arrowsmith.