18th Century over-dress for a wedding dress
Object number2011.020.2
Title18th Century over-dress for a wedding dress
DescriptionWedding over-dress originally believed by the family to be from the 1790s, although subsequent investigation puts it closer to 1720s. The dress is in pink silk brocaded with floral pattern, with openings for pockets, dark pink silk lining to skirt and bodice partially lined with linen, gauze ruffles on 3/4 sleeves and deep lace collar on bodice. The over-dress has been cut, shortened and altered to its present form, and much-repaired.
Scott family wedding dress of Helen Rendall and Andrew Scott.
It is unlikely that this was a 1790s dress since it is the wrong style and the floral pattern on the over-dress is too large. The silk is more likely to originally date from the 1730s. It is possible that the 1790s wedding date is wrong, or that Helen Rendall was wearing a dress belonging to/adapted from an earlier family member. It looks like the over-dress has been shortened, re-lined and the ruches on the sleeves added to lengthen the sleeves and make them more comfortable to wear. It is not clear whether this was done for Lynda Marsden, but the sleeve alterations are visible in the 1913 portrait (2011.019). The lace she is wearing as a fichu and sleeve ruffles is finer than the lace and gauze currently on the dress. The lace has obviously been replaced a number of times.- Rachel Boak, 2020
Further investigation suggests a date c1720s. The actual wedding date of Helen and Andrew is probably closer to 1750 as their children were born in 1755 and 1757 according to Old parish records. No evidence of the wedding has yet been found. It's thought that the dress has been adapted around 4 or 5 times. EP Oct 2024.
Object nameOver-dress
Object categoryclothing
Materialsilk, linen