Cork lined bowler

[dhermann1]

I'm looking at a couple of bowler hats on Ebay at the moment, and there's one with a cork lining in the crown. Why would this be done? I know that bowlers were originally designed as "hard hats", i.e. protective gear, for horsemen on an earl's estate. Would the cork reinforce this protective function? It also has a little ring on the underside of the brim for hanging up.
Would that mean that this hat was actually intended for its original purpose?
Signed,
Curious.

 

[Dinerman]

Hats with the grommet/loop through the back of the brim are generally dressage hats. So yes, it would be lined in cork for some kind of protection.