Island’s Famous Roman Mosaic Inspires...A Regatta Hat

Monday, 15 July 2024 09:09

By Dominic Kureen @WriteOnDom

The 1,700-year old image of a cockerel-headed man discovered at Brading Roman Villa will be the theme of a spectacular hat created for next month’s Sandown Bay Regatta.

Work on the headwear begins this week at The Regatta Hat Factory which opens on Wednesday.

The precious Gallus Mosaic was unearthed in a Brading field in the late 1800s and is one the Island’s most intriguing treasures. Sarah Girling, Heritage and Education Officer at the Villa, is thrilled about the collaboration, saying:

"At Brading Roman Villa, we love to inspire creativity so to be part of the creation of hats at The Regatta Hat Factory is wonderful.

"It was great to see this Sandown tradition revived last year and we feel the introduction of our truly unique mosaic, Gallus - our cockerel-headed man - fits beautifully with the theme.

"We don't know if he is wearing a mask or a hat, or is perhaps a caricature, but he is a lot of fun and we can't wait to see the hat inspired by him'.

Hat Factory artists Teresa Grimaldi and Joel Lines will work with the community to create the giant hat over the coming weeks, with the headpiece to be shown off at the Grand Regatta Hat Parade on Sunday 11 August.

Lead artist Teresa said:

"Is the character satirical? Mythical? A caricature of a local Islander in costume, or an unloved Roman Emperor?

"It will be a lot of fun to bring Gallus to life as a collaborative over-sized hat, and thrilling to see an interpretation of this iconic Brading mosaic head to Sandown Beach as a piece of spectacular headwear."

Other giant hats celebrating Sandown are also in the works for this year’s Regatta. Milliner Keely Hunter has designed a headpiece inspired by the nature of Culver Down and local meadows, while Brighton-based artist Kate Phillips will pay homage to the town's past with a hat honouring John Wilkes, the radical 18th century politician who made Sandown his home in a house he called Villakin.

The Regatta hat revival is a Sandown Carnival initiative supported by Arts Council England.

Carnival chair Paul Coueslant is delighted the 135-year old community group has secured another round of funding to bring back the town’s tradition of hat-wearing.

He concluded:

"Getting Arts Council backing for a second year running is a real boost for Sandown.

"It means we can build on previous success when our hat workshops and hat parade struck a chord with all ages.

"Inspired by Sandown and the Bay, we hope even more will get involved this summer and we look forward to all kinds of weird and wonderful hats being created over the next few weeks."

The Regatta Hat Factory is at Boojum & Snark, 105 High Street, Sandown and open Wednesdays to Sundays, 12pm to 8pm from 17 July to 11 August.

It’s completely free to join in the fun, with materials and guidance provided and no experience necessary.

Larger groups or community organisations can email [email protected].uk to schedule their visit.

Sandown Bay Regatta takes place over the weekend of 10 and 11 August, with the Grand Regatta Hat Parade on Sunday 11th at 2.30pm.

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