An English lady’s wardrobe Claimed

When Emily Tinne passed away in 1966, her family were shocked to find that she had filled the cellars of their family home with hundreds of items of clothing. For more than 30 years she had been buying costume at a scale that the family had not fully realised and much of the clothing had never been worn. Featuring more than 70 costumes from the largest collection of one persons’ clothing in any museum in the UK, An English lady’s wardrobe is a snapshot of the changing fashions in England from the Edwardian times until the Second World War. The exhibition features daywear, evening dresses, outdoor wear, underwear and accessories, including jewellery, shoes and handbags. In addition to Emily’s clothing, the exhibition features costumes belonging to her children (including an Eton school uniform) as well as outfits worn by the family’s servants. The show also draws upon personal letters written by members of the Tinne family, providing a fascinating insight into the family’s home life. The items of clothing within the exhibition have been individually conserved and mounted, so that they are displayed to maximum effect. Costume from the 1920s and 30s is brought to life in the exhibition with original period film footage from northern England.