Lila There is a website (probably several) about straw plaiting and its history but I can't think of the address. I went to google.co.uk and put in straw plaiting as, like you, I too have many plaiters, along with ag labs, in my family. It would seem it was most prominent around the Beds Herts part of England in the 18th to mid 19th century but died out as new styles of hat making came into being. Straw plaiting could sometimes bring in more money than the labouring, I suppose it would depend on how good you were. But do check it out as my memory can play tricks! Jane