Fashions from the Past at Belsay Hall

A fabulous weekend of Costume arranged by English Heritage is to take place at Belsay Hall in Northumberland. Belsay is situated next to Morpeth, an attractive market town. Taking place inside and outside the Hall will be a variety of historic fashion displays. From Tudor to Georgian to 20th Century, a variety of historical costumiers will bring their collections to life with informative presentations.

There is music and children’s dressing up too making a whole weekend dedicated to fashion from the past.

Belsay has a grand medieval castle with stunning views from the top of the tower later extended to include a magnificent Jacobean mansion.

The Hall itself is an architectural masterpiece inspired by the temples of ancient Greece, with its fabulous Pillar Hall.
There are huge grounds, packed with an impressive array of shrubs and flowers.The unique Quarry Garden is a fantasy of ravines, pinnacles and exotic plants.

Belsay Hall is one of the top visitor attractions in Northumberland and excellent for a family day out.
Prior to the weekend of Costume I will present a stunning display of my fabulous costumes for ‘Kings and Queens’ in the beautiful library. It will be set up Friday 29th July and the costumes will be on display until Friday 5th August.

We will be presenting our exciting and dynamic period fashions shows twice daily on Saturday 6th August and Sunday 7th August at 11.30 am and 2.45pm. An introductory talk to be followed by models appearing in eight of my fabulous 16th Century inspired costumes.

Also included is a model wearing 16th Century underwear – the foundation of fashion –  to give a fascinating insight into what was worn beneath a 16th Century Gown. Each outfit to be accompanied by period music and a talk about its design and construction.

Included are a Blue Silk ‘Anne Boleyn’ Gown with French Hood, a Gold Silk Elizabeth I Gown with Ruff and Henry VIII dressed in full regalia. You can also watch Mary Queen of Scots being undressed for her execution.

There will be a visit by the Spitfires – a trio of girls in wartime costumes and’ The History Wardrobe’ offers ‘ The Portrait of a Lady’ an enchanting view of the creation of beauty in portraits of the late 18th Century.

It will be a very interesting and exciting couple of days – a weekend not to be missed.