The Cultural Review

17th Century England

1 article

17th-century Londoners protesting a tailor's public whipping for wearing a hat with a legally prohibited wide brim.
Culture

What were 17th century England hat wars and political rebellion?

In 1635, a London tailor faced public whipping for selling a hat with a brim wider than legally permitted, sparking street protests that challenged royal authority.

Eleanor Voss·April 11, 2026