Clothing the Elite
Creating the Elizabethan image involves lots of people engaged in all sorts of activities. From those who grind pigments in order to manufacture period makeup, to laundresses standing knee deep in the stream beating and pummelling linen, our members demonstrate the numerous complex processes that lie behind the glamour. Clean and completed garments, lotions, potions and accessories come together as we finally wash and dress our elite few, fixing their hair and adjusting their sword belts for that final touch of courtly show.
Clean linen was the foundation of all
The Lady of the household
Dressed to impress
Hours of work nearly done!
Anyone care to dance?
We love the details
It's not just the clothes
The young master and mistress
A chest in the Wardrobe
We really do love the details!
An eligable young woman
In our beginning is our ending
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Clean linen was the foundation of all
Laundresses working without modern detergent or hot water use ingenious methods to get clothes just as clean as today. Lye derived from straining water through ashes formed the basis of much of the chemical compounds used to remove grease and dirt from linens. We have found that this is one of our most popular activities, particularly with families. -
The Lady of the household
The lady in all her finery is awaiting guests The construction of the fashionable Elizabethan image was the result of several hours effort from a number of maids. The costs involved in maintaining a wardrobe fit for those of noble birth were eye-wateringly high, with single outfits costing the equivalent of a family car today. This outfit, louke all of our clothing, is made entirely by hand by members of the group. -
Dressed to impress
Elizabethan elite men spent considerably more on their own clothes than those of their wives and daughters. Their engagement in the public sphere necessitated that they looked the best that they could at all times. Often, one's credit rating was assessed on your appearance. -
Hours of work nearly done!
Preparing a ruff involves laundering, starching, pinning and setting with hot irons to produce the desired effect. This process took the servants roughly three hours per ruff, spread out over several days. Maintaining this fashion led to the creation of an entire industry around the maintenance of just this one item of clothing. When the fashion passed, the industry disappeared. It is one that we have revived as part of our displays. -
Anyone care to dance?
Stiff clothing doesn't mean stiff behaviours. Our members enjoy showcasing these wonderful garments and discussing how to move, dance, fence, eat and live an energetic life wearing corsets, peascods and ruffs. -
We love the details
Cloth, braid, jewellery, lace, stitching and construction techniques - we love them all and enjoy sharing our passion and skills in producing Tudor clothing. -
It's not just the clothes
Hair, makeup and personal hygiene are all part of the process. The fashionable image required elaborate and time consuming hair dressing, and a huge range of home-produced products which we enjoy researching and producing. -
The young master and mistress
At all stages of life the clothing of the elite had to impress, from babies in elaborate bearing cloths to an elderly Lord in a velvet gown and nightcap. Clothing was carefully ordered according to one's age as well as one's gender. children were not "mini-adults" - each stage of development had it's own shapes and styles for garments. -
A chest in the Wardrobe
The Wardrobe was a department within a great house with its own staff and accountancy system. It provides a real window into the care and production of expensive clothing. Detailed records survive from the time of garments being taken from storage, used, returned and repaired. The bureaucracy involved was almost as complicated as the clothing itself. -
We really do love the details!
Look at the buttons on this!!! There were hundreds of specialist crafts and trades supporting the Elizabethan garment industry. We do our best to recreate them all, such as these individually hand made buttons in silk and gold thread over a wooden core. -
An eligable young woman
There are hidden social clues in all this clothing. Join us in decoding these messages from the past. -
In our beginning is our ending
Laundry to laundry - the clothing returns to be prepared for another day. Everyone gets involved. Volunteers are always welcome!