Dressed to impress - medieval style!

Dressed to impress - medieval style!

A new exhibition showing clothing of King Henry VIII will open at Gainsborough Old Hall on 11 July 2009. The exhibition marks 500 years since his accession to the throne and features replicas of some of his elaborate garments.

Henry actually visited Gainsborough Old Hall during his ‘Summer Progress’ of 1541 with his fifth wife, Katherine Howard. The exhibition shows replica garments ordered by Henry in his younger, more carefree days, when his waistline permitted him to enjoy lively outdoor pursuits such as jousting, hawking and deer hunting.

The expenditure and detail of garments of the wardrobe were carefully documented. A volume of this, dated 1520 to 1525, was compiled by Yeoman of the King’s Robes and Keeper of the King’s Wardrobe, James Worsley, and is now housed in Lincolnshire Archives in Lincoln. Astonishingly, it has Henry VIII’s signature on every page.

His magnificent royal wardrobe cost around £8,000.00 per year – that’s around £3 million in today’s money!

The garments on display are taken from the original Tudor manuscript of the document and carefully reproduced offering a real insight into the beautiful quality and opulence of royal Tudor dress.

Exhibits include a complete outfit worn by Henry, inspired by an early Holbein painting housed at the National Portrait Gallery and the magnificent dress of ‘clothe of Silver’ as worn by Katherine Howard when she visited the Hall with Henry in 1541.

In addition, visitors can try on Tudor-style costumes, take part in a family quiz and view work produced by local school children.

Article Published: 18/06/2009

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