Louise Walton a little bit of History
Having obtained a degree from the London College of Fashion, Louise Walton spent some time as a successful fashion designer, and having always had a passion for hats it seemed a natural progression to move into millinery. Louise bought the hat business from Valerie Wolsey in 2004 which was formerly known as 'Occasions', at that time located in the Old Bakery building (now Milliners Cottage) in Goldsmiths Lane, Wallingford. The business had been established since 1994 and had a collection of approximately 350 hats.
The hat shop was subsequently renamed Louise Claire Millinery and was relocated to larger premises at 36 St Mary's Street, Wallingford.
Louise has enhanced the business over the past years to its current level, during which time she has completed and successfully passed 10 millinery courses including a City and Guilds to add to her fashion degree. There are now over 1000 hats and fascinators available to buy or hire, some of which are Louise’s own exclusive designs.
The premises potted history
The hat shop is located in the historic town of Wallingford in a grade 2 listed building. This was in its early days the offices for the first of the Wilder iron foundries (known as Fish Street Foundry); the workshops were originally located behind the premises. Wilders was founded by Richard Wilder in 1831, and the weather vane of a ploughman on the roof of the building was made by Wilders, as were many key iron workings in and around Wallingford.