THE TYPE of knitted cap known as a ‘Welsh wig’ was very common in the UK in the late 18th to the mid 19th centuries. Incredibly, there is now only one known extant example, which is kept in the collections of the St Fagans National History Museum in Wales.
The following description is of a Member of Parliament, Daniel O’Connell, while travelling with his entourage - he is wrapped up warmly as he is sitting on the outside of the coach, and is also wearing his Welsh wig under a hat:
“…The M.P himself was on the frontdickey, cased in three great coats, andtwo or three green handkerchiefs, Welshwig, green velvet cap with gold handen-wreathed with green penny ribbon,apparently too cold and chilled by theneglect of the bystanders…to attemptany display…
