How The World’s Oldest Hat Shop Has Stayed In Business For Nearly 350 Years | Still Standing

How The World’s Oldest Hat Shop Has Stayed In Business For Nearly 350 Years | Still Standing
Quizzed ESL Activities

The World’s Oldest Hat Shop

Lock & Co. is a very special boutique in the heart of London. It is nearly 350 years old, making it the oldest hat shop in the world. This shop has a long history and has made hats for kings, queens, and many famous people.

Traditional Tools and Custom Service

At Lock & Co., every customer gets a custom experience. They use a special device called a conformer. This tool is over 150 years old! It helps the hatter measure the exact shape of a person’s head. This ensures that every hat is perfect for the person wearing it.

The Art of Hat Making

The designers at the shop design beautiful hats by hand. They use steam and heat to make the material soft. Then, they use a wooden block to give the hat its style. They have a large collection of these blocks, including some very vintage ones. They always focus on making high-quality products.

Still Standing Today

This legendary shop has survived through many difficult times, including two world wars and a global pandemic. Even though the world changes, Lock & Co. stays the same. It is a place where time seems to stop, offering traditional service to everyone who walks through the door.

Vocabulary Table

Term Pronunciation Definition Used in sentence
Measure /ˈmeʒə(r)/ To find the size or amount of something. this is one of the only shops in the world that still measures every head before selling a hat.
Design /dɪˈzaɪn/ To plan and make a drawing of something before it is created. lock and co-workers have been designing and selling highquality hats for nearly 350 years.
Quality /ˈkwɒləti/ How good or bad something is. lock and co-workers have been designing and selling high quality hats for nearly 350 years.
Famous /ˈfeɪməs/ Known by many people. its most famous style is the cook perhaps more commonly known as a bowler hat.
Survive /səˈvaɪv/ To continue to live or exist, especially after a difficult situation. the shop has survived industrialization and two world wars.
Boutique /buːˈtiːk/ A small shop that sells fashionable clothes or expensive gifts. we went to the heart of London to see how this legendary Boutique is still standing.
Custom /ˈkʌstəm/ Made or done specifically for one person. most hat stores don’t do custom shaping and sizing.
Device /dɪˈvaɪs/ An object or machine that has been made for a specific purpose. Jay brings them to the custom fitting device called a conformer.
Tool /tuːl/ Something that you hold in your hand and use to do a particular job. Jay uses the paper to calibrate the other sizing tool the formillon.
Shape /ʃeɪp/ The physical form or appearance of an object. it punches dots in the paper that outline the exact head shape.
Perfect /ˈpɜːrfɪkt/ Complete and correct in every way. Jay adjusts the Hat until it’s soft and takes on the perfect shape.
Collection /kəˈlekʃn/ A group of objects that are similar in some way. Couture pieces for locks women’s collection.
Vintage /ˈvɪntɪdʒ/ Used to describe something that is old but of high quality. lock and Co has a large collection that includes vintage ones.
Material /məˈtɪəriəl/ A physical substance that things can be made from. this is the same process um in hat blocking with any material you use.
Style /staɪl/ A particular way in which something is done or made. its most famous style is the cook perhaps more commonly known as a bowler hat.

Vocabulary Flashcards



Lexical Focus: Collocations & Chunks

Don’t just learn isolated words—learn chunks of language. These patterns will help you speak more naturally.

  • high quality
    Collocation
    Lock & Co. has been designing and selling high quality hats for nearly 350 years.
  • oldest hat shop
    Noun Phrase
    Lock & Co. is the oldest hat shop in the world.
  • world wars
    Collocation
    The shop has survived two world wars.
  • in use
    Prepositional Phrase
    This machine is 150 years old and it is still in use every day.
  • take on
    Phrasal Verb
    Jay adjusts the hat until it takes on the perfect shape.
  • hand crafts
    Verb Phrase
    The head designer hand crafts beautiful pieces for the women’s collection.
  • piece of art
    Noun Phrase
    Every hat made at the shop is a piece of art.
  • stepping into
    Phrasal Verb
    Going to Lock & Co. feels like stepping into a different time.
  • long history
    Collocation
    The shop has a very long history of making hats.
  • family business
    Collocation
    Lock & Co. is one of the world’s oldest family businesses.

De-Chunking: Complete the Expressions

Select the correct phrase from the box below to complete the sentences.

high quality
oldest hat shop
in use
piece of art
stepping into

1. Lock & Co. is nearly 350 years old, making it the in the world.

2. The special machine is 150 years old and it is still every day.

3. Every hat made at the shop is a beautiful .

4. Going to this shop feels like a different time.

5. They only sell products to their customers.



While-viewing Tasks

Complete these tasks while watching the video:



Guided Notes

Fill in the key information as you watch:

  • Name of the shop:
  • Age of the shop:
  • City:

Questions to Answer

  1. What is a “conformer”?
  2. Name two famous customers mentioned in the video.
  3. What did the shop make for British soldiers in World War I?

Checklist

Tick the items you see or hear about in the video:

  • A 150-year-old machine
  • Wooden hat blocks
  • Hot steam
  • A computer making hats
  • A bomb that didn’t explode

Embedded Video:

Fill in the Blanks Exercise

1. Lock & Co. is one of the only shops that still every head.

2. The shop has been and selling hats for nearly 350 years.

3. It is the hat shop in the world.

4. The shop has survived two .

5. The COVID-19 was the first time it had to close its doors.

6. Master Hatter Jay greets every as they walk in.

7. Most hat stores don’t do shaping and sizing.

8. The fitting is called a conformer.

9. Jay uses the paper to adjust the other sizing .

10. He adjusts the hat until it is .

11. The hat takes on the shape.

12. The head designer pieces for the collection.

13. She chooses her , mixing and matching colors.

14. They use to shape the hats.

15. Going to Lock & Co. feels like stepping into a different .

Vocabulary Quiz

1. What does the shop still do to every head before selling a hat?

a) Colors it
b) Measures it
c) Washes it
d) Draws it

2. What is a “boutique”?

a) A small, expensive shop
b) A big supermarket
c) A public library
d) A sports center

3. How many years has Lock & Co. been in business?

a) 50 years
b) 100 years
c) Nearly 350 years
d) 1,000 years

4. What kind of product does the shop sell?

a) Shoes
b) Computers
c) Food
d) High-quality hats

5. What is a “conformer”?

a) A 150-year-old fitting device
b) A type of hat
c) A famous customer
d) A modern computer

6. What does the word “vintage” mean?

a) Very new
b) Old but high quality
c) Cheap and broken
d) Electronic

7. Who uses steam and wooden blocks?

a) The customers
b) The delivery drivers
c) The hat designers
d) The royal family

8. What did the shop survive?

a) A fire
b) A flood
c) A storm
d) Two world wars

9. What does “custom” mean?

a) Made specifically for one person
b) Made by a robot
c) Very expensive
d) Found in many shops

10. Where is Lock & Co. located?

a) New York
b) London
c) Paris
d) Tokyo

Fact or Fiction Quiz

1. Lock & Co. is the newest hat shop in London.

a) Fact
b) Fiction

2. Famous people like Charlie Chaplin and Winston Churchill were customers.

a) Fact
b) Fiction

3. The shop still uses tools that are over 100 years old.

a) Fact
b) Fiction

4. A bomb fell on the shop during a war but did not explode.

a) Fact
b) Fiction

5. The shop had to close its website forever during the pandemic.

a) Fact
b) Fiction

Extension Activities

Choose from these activities to extend your learning:



Famous Hats Research

Research a famous person who always wears a hat (like a singer or an actor). Write three sentences about their hat style.

Difficulty:
Easy

Hat Discussion

Talk to a partner about these questions:

  • Do you like wearing hats? Why or why not?
  • What kind of hat is your favorite (baseball cap, winter hat, etc.)?
  • When do you usually wear a hat?
Difficulty:
Medium

Design a Hat

In a group, choose a famous movie character. Design a new hat for them! Draw it and explain why it is perfect for that character.

Difficulty:
Hard

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