Tipping the Denton Linney is a life-sized bronze statue by sculptor John Cox and Escar UK Bronze, created for Tameside Council’s public art programme
The figure honours the workers of Denton’s hatting industry and depicts a man doffing a Linney hat, a brand associated with local manufacturer Walker, Ashworth & Linney
The statue stands in Jubilee Square, Albert Street, opposite the former Denton Town Hall in Greater Manchester; Councillor Martin Wareing MBE unveiled it on 12 October 2005
Hat-making developed in Denton and neighbouring Haughton from small workshops and cottage industries, providing additional income for some farming families
By 1825 there were around twenty hatting firms in the area; industrial production later became an important part of the town’s economy
Throughout the 19th century and well into the 20th century, there were factories manufacturing a wide range of hats to suit all tastes and purses; felt hats, silk hats, fur hats, soft hats, stiff hats, velour hats, wool hats, straw hats and of course, the ubiquitous cloth cap
As fashions changed, traditional designs were modified and new styles were produced and introduced
In this way, local companies remained adaptable until hats were no longer everyday wear
The Denton Hat Company introduced its Attaboy range in the 1930s, reflecting the town’s continuing adaptation to changing fashions
Denton’s hatting heritage includes the skills of the people who shaped, finished, lined and trimmed hats as well as the businesses that sold them
Local heritage accounts also describe difficult factory conditions and the hazards faced by hatting workers
The statue’s dedication places those workers at the centre of the story, giving their contribution a lasting presence in the town
Doffing or tipping a hat is a traditional gesture of greeting, respect or acknowledgement
The sculpture captures that familiar movement as the man raises his Linney hat
The gesture makes the bronze figure approachable while connecting it directly with a product once made in Denton
Its recognisable clothing and pose help turn the story of a local industry into a human figure within the public square
The Linney Man statue combines everyday character with a tribute to the craftsmanship of Denton’s hat makers
Tipping the Denton Linney forms part of Tameside’s wider public art programme celebrating the history and heritage of its towns
In Jubilee Square, the Denton hatting statue keeps the memory of local workers visible in the town centre
Explore the related commissions below to see how bronze sculpture can tell the stories of people, places and industrial communities
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Tipping the Denton Linney is a life-sized bronze statue of a man doffing his hat, dedicated to the workers of Denton’s hatting industry; it is also known locally as the Linney Man statue
The statue stands in Jubilee Square on Albert Street, opposite the former Denton Town Hall in Tameside, Greater Manchester
Sculptor John Cox and Escar UK Bronze created the commissioned statue as part of Tameside’s public art programme
Councillor Martin Wareing MBE unveiled the statue on 12 October 2005
Linney was a hat brand associated with Denton manufacturer Walker, Ashworth & Linney; the hat worn by the bronze figure connects the sculpture with the town’s industry
Tipping or doffing a hat is a gesture of greeting or respect; the statue uses that familiar movement to honour Denton’s hatting workers and give the town’s industrial heritage a human presence
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