Hatchlands costume project

Members of The Arts Society from East and West Surrey recently completed a project involving the design and creation of children’s dressing up outfits at Hatchlands Park, a National Trust property near Guildford. The outfits were conceived to reflect the age of the building and give children a flavour of the period. Extensive research was carried out by project leader Jan Tait and National Trust co-ordinator Rachel Devine to ensure accuracy, and the vast majority of fabrics and haberdashery used were donated by The Arts Society and National Trust members.

Work was carried out for a day a week over the several months and eight outfits were produced: two ladies’ dresses with hats, two gentlemen’s outfits, two maids’ outfits with aprons and mob caps and two footmen’s outfits. All were made with open backs that fasten with ribbons making quick changing possible. They are displayed with accessories and explanations for the children to enjoy.

Dressing up has proved very popular with young visitors to Hatchlands, and there are plans to extend the collection in the autumn, along with the creation of an adult costume installation.

Photographs by James Duffy