General Everyday Clothing

1830 - 1840

1836-40
Day Dress. Submitted by Jill on the A272

1841 - 1850

Late 1840s
Sisters. Submitted by Jill on the A272 by Permission of C Frye	Left sister: A centre parting with ringlets was a popular 1840s hairstyle. This sister's sleeves are set slighty below the natural shoulder line and the flared shape is a precursor to the later "pagoda" sleeve of the 1850s. Here they are worn with "engageantes" - a detachable false undersleeve.	Right sister: A wide off the shoulder neckline is made more modest by the use of a black lace jacket, and the tiered dress gives it more fullness than her sister's. Both dresses would have been worn with several petticoats The gold adornment is an original feature on the photograph.

1851 - 1860

Early 1850s
Submitted by Jill on the A272 by Permission of C Frye	This lady was born in 1794. She wears a plaid patterned bonnet, and a lace collar over a loose fitting jacket that does not match the skirt. She wears black net gloves.

1850s
Submitted by Jill on the A272 by Permission of C Frye	Pagoda sleeves as seen on this dress became fashionable in the 1850s, though her hairstyle is more old fashioned. The curls would have dropped put very easily in damp weather. She is the woman seen on the right of the picture of two sisters in the 1840s section.

1850s
Submitted by Jill on the A272 by Permission of C Frye	This lady was born in 1794 and died in 1862. Her dress has pagoda sleeves and deep fringing below the braid; her dark bonnet and the dark braid suggest mourning or half mourning. Her black net gloves are of the fingerless sort.

1853-6
Submitted by Jill on the A272

1861 - 1870

Early 1860's
2nd Great Aunt Elizabeth Lock. Submitted by Katarzyna	Elizabeth was born in 1824. Note the hair covers her ears; in the late 1860's the ears were shown. She is also wearing "engageantes" - false white detacheable sleeves which were easily removed for laundering. These were introduced during the 1850's.

Early 1860's
My Great Great Grandmother. Submitted by Anniern

Early 1860's
My Great Great Grandmother. Submitted by Bo the Bodger	Sarah Richardson nee Awty (my gt gt grandmother) who died in 1879. She was the wife of a printer and publisher in Greenwich. If you look closely you will also notice that she has a large goitre on her neck.

Early 1860's
My Great Great Grandfather. Submitted by Bo the Bodger	Sarah Richardson's husband, Henry S Richardson - a publisher and printer in Greenwich

1860s
Lady born 1820 Wearing a Crinoline. Submitted by Jill on the A272 by Permission of C Frye

1860s
Aunt and Niece. Submitted by Jill on the A272 by permission of C Frye

1863-65
Day Dress. Submitted by Jill on the A272	Srong colours were now available, aniline dyes were created during this period, red had been the first in 1859, followed by black and blue in 1863.

1871 - 1880

Early 1870s
Elizabeth Ann Badcock nee Hawes 1814-77. Submitted by Jill on the A272	Elizabeth was born in 1814, and was a well off grocer's wife. This photo was taken in Margate in the 1870's, presumably on holiday as she lived in New Cross, south London. The dress is silk, with detachable lace collar. The chain appears to be for a watch as is goes into a tiny pocket.

1870s
William James Crisp. Submitted by Jill on the A272	William wore exactly the same coat in the photo below in 1882. Here, as a younger and more confident looking leather factor holidaying in Margate he wears it undone to show off his stylish waistcoat and cravat held with a large tiepin.

1874
Mother and Child. Submitted by Jill on the A272	Sarah aged 25 was both daughter and wife of Lancashire weavers; she is holding her second child. Her dress is ornamented with a knobbly V shaped braid at the neck, the three ruffles at the bottom of the dress are only slightly gathered, a sign of less wealth as more expensive clothes had more ornamental decoration. The child on her lap is a boy.

c1875
Submitted by Jill on the A272	A silk mercer's daughter on holiday in Margate.

1875
Submitted by Jill on the A272

c1878
Family Group. Submitted by Bo the Bodger	A Vicar and his wife with a child relative; all from a fairly well to do family.

c1880
Edward and Sarah Stark. Submitted by Wendy Pusey

c1880
William Henry Thomas. Submitted by Wendy Pusey

c1880
Ellen Powell. Submitted by Wendy Pusey

c1880
On Holiday in Margate. Submitted by Jill on the A272	Jane was a leather factor's wife, though before her marriage she had been a braider employing 6 hands and later a children's dressmaker so she would have been capable of making the lace, tassels and multi layered trimmings that adorn her dress. She appears to be holding a piece of knitting or crochet work. The line of the top of her corset is clearly visible at her bustline.

1881 - 1890

1880s
Dress Designer's Minatures. Submitted by Jill on the A272.

1881
Submitted by Jill on the A272.

c1880's
General Everyday Submitted by Pat Hope

1881-2
Maria Crisp, Wife of a Wealthy Grocer. Submitted by Jill on the A272	Maria's dress is heavily ornamented with "passmenterie" a form of decoration also used in furnishing at the time characterised by tassels, ruffles, braids and large ornamental buttons. The dress is drawn in to a bustle at the back. Her bodice is worn with a deep lace collar and she has a chatelaine pinned to her ample bosom with 4 chains tucked into a side pocket.	The photographers were in partnership from 1881, Maria died in 1882 which gives a relatively short period for this photograph to have been taken. A lady of her age may not have been up to date with the latest fashions, she seems have had the dress as "best" for a while. The family appear to have holidayed in Margate as her home at this time was in the village of Ightham, Kent.

1882
4 generations, All Named William James Crisp. Submitted by Jill on the A272	The baby was born 11 March 1882, which helps date the picture to the summer or autumn of that year. William on the far right had owned this coat for a while, and chose to wear it buttoned, compare with the picture in the previous decade where he looks more casual. In 1882 he has chosen a tie like the modern ones we all know rather than a cravat and tiepin.

1885
Underwear. Submitted by Jill on the A272	The corset is a maternity corset, it has additional lacing at the sides to allow for the wearer's changing shape. A cotton chemise is worn underneath. The draws have an open crotch as was normal at the time. Petticoats would be worn over the bustle.

1888
Aunt and Nephew. Submitted by Jill on the A272 by kind permission of C Frye.	While her nephew wears the very popular sailor suit, aunt has a tightly fitted bodice with a lace jabot at the neck held by a brooch.

c1890
General Clothing Submitted by Tom Tom	My great great grandmother, Pattie Sophia Davenport

1891 - 1900

early 1890's
2nd Great Aunt Elizabeth Paternoster. Submitted by Katarzyna	Elizabeth b 1843 married her cousin John Paternoster, a gamekeeper so they were a working class family.The photo would have been taken in early 1890's. Plain suits with little ornamentation except perhaps a brooch on the collar and the hair tied back in a bun with no fringe was the order of the day.

Early 1890s
Florence. Submitted by Jill on the A272 by kind permission of C Frye	Florence died in 1896. She has a small lace collar, the bodice is beaded with a pattern of diamonds, the front fastenings are concealed.

c1893
Family Group. Submitted by Tom Tom	Revd. Arthur Simmonds Mammatt and his family. The boys were born in 1888 and 1890.

c1895
Great Aunt Emma Beadon Sporle. Submitted by Katarzyna	Emma, b 1876, married Jacob Stechmann a tailor in West Ham in 1898 but I believe this photo to have been taken in 1895-6. Collars were high and with a ruffle or lace under the stiff outer. Emma's father was a sailor and then a railway porter so again they were a working class family.

c1895
Shooting Party c 1895. Submitted by Katarzyna	Ezekiel Paternoster b 1810 (far rhs with bushy white beard) was my 2nd Great Grandfather. He was an agricultural labourer on an estate in Rushmere St Andrew, Suffolk. The hip length capes of the ladies are very masculine and functional as befitted their country style of living. However, this was the era of La Belle Epoque and in high society the capes were embellished with embroidery, lace and beading etc and were much more frivolous in appearance. The double layered cape worn by the 3rd lady from the left was introduced in 1894. The little round hats that they are wearing date from late 1880's.

Late 1890s
Submitted by Jill on the A272	Born 1871, married in 1896, possibly taken on honeymoon.

c1897
Family Group Submitted by Pat Hope

1898
Sunday Best. Submitted by LangleyValeSue

c1899
Family Group Submitted by Tom Tom

late 1890's
Submitted by Anniern	My great grandmother's daughter in law in the late 1890's. She died aged 59 in 1900. Note the aspidista in the background.

Late 1890s
Late 1890s dress bodice. Submitted by Jill on the A272.	The dress, in silk, has "leg of mutton" sleeves ruched at the top and decorated with blue velvet. The bodice is hand stitched and mounted on a boned calico lining, fastening with 12 hooks into hand sewn eyelets hidden by the front pleating. Some gores of the original skirt remain and this was lined with stiff cotton net and trimmed with the same velvet. Another bodice once existed (one sleeve pictured below which also shows the original colour), although all that remains are the sleeves and left front, as the dress was given by an elderly lady to a young woman to be unpicked for reuse during the 1940s.

1901 - 1910

1901-1910
Hunting Party Submitted by Bo the Bodger	A Chief Constable doing his duty! - to the far left of the photo. The rest is a hunting party of nobility + others!

1903
Isle of Wight family. Submitted by Jill on the A272 by permission of Charles Frye

1904
Family Group Submitted by Bo the Bodger	Family group of 4 generations of the same family. MY father is the babe in arms, my grandmother born 1878 is holding him, the lady to the left of the picture is my gt Grandmother born 1851 and her mother my gt gt grandmother born 1821 is on the right of the picture. They came from a solid upper middle class family. Personally I think that my grandmother's dress is beautiful and I feel that it must have been either her wedding dress (she married in 1901) or definitely her best dress.

c1908
Submitted by Sue from Southend	This photo is my Grandmother and her youngest sister. The child, Rosie, was born in 1903 and my Grandmother in 1890 suggesting a date of about 1908. They were an East End family (Bethnal Green) and the photo was taken in the studio of F Butler, 98 Armagh Rd, Bow, E London.

1909
On Holiday. Submitted by Bo the Bodger	A middle class family group on holiday.

1909
Everyday Clothing. Submitted by Pat Hope	My Father is the small boy pictured at the front, on the right.

1910
25th Wedding Anniversary. Submitted by Katarzyna	This photo shows the younger ladies wearing simple skirts and blouses. Often they were worn with a straw boater or wide brimmed hats for very special occasions. I think Grandma was left back in the 1890's!!

1910
Submitted by Jules Smith	Notice the exposed neck instead of the high necked blouses favoured around that time.

1909
Submitted by Katarzyna

1910
Submitted by Jill on the A272	"Best wishes Christmas 1910" was written on the back of this card.

1911 - 1920

c1912
A Lancashire weaver & family. Submitted by Jill on the A272.	They have dressed in their best clothes for the photographer. The mother's hairstyle is given volume by the means of pads usually made of horsehair and often known as "rats".

1913
Steel family skirts and blouses. Submitted by Jill on the A272	The seated, older lady favours a more structured blouse with a high collar while her stepdaughters favour soft collars and a less corseted look. Harty (right) has a more masculine style, her tie has a tiepin with an "H", she also wears a wristwatch.

1913
Steel family blouses. Submitted by Jill on the A272	The eldest sister (left) keeps a high collar while her younger sisters prefer lower collars.

1913
Young lady with her mother. Submitted by Tom Tom	Note that the mother still has a high collar whilst her daughter is wearing a softer lower collar.

1913
Family Group. Submitted by Tom Tom	My 2x great grandparents, Thomas and Alice Violet Connelly are sitting at the front. See how the daughters all have shorter sleeves whilst their mother wears longer sleeves

c1915
Submitted by Tom Tom	The older couple are my 2x great grandparents, George Edwin and Jane Ann Gregory. Their daughter, Elizabeth Jane is far left and she is my great grandmother.

1917
Submitted by LangleyValeSue	Baby girl aged 1 year, boy aged 3 years.

1917
Middle class welsh lady's blouse. Submitted by Jill on the A272	Beatrice aged 33 has mixed the newer fashion of soft collared more open necked blouse with a high necked lace or net one underneath, maybe just for "modesty" as her husband was 20 years her senior.

1918
Submitted by Rosi Glow

c1919
Submitted by Wendy Pusey	My grandmother and her children, in their normal everyday clothes.

c1920
General Clothing Submitted by Tom Tom	My great grandmother, Dorothy Elizabeth Downes with her mother, Esther Downes (formerly Bradbury) .

1921 - 1930

c1921/22
Mother and Child Submitted by Rachel Scand

1923
Family Group. Submitted by Katarzyna	This photo is of my mother, her brother and my grandparents. For the first time ever in Britain ladies showed their ankles!! For many the hair was cut short.

1925
Young man b 1908. Submitted by Tom Tom

1927
Submitted by Little Moo	My Nan and her family taken at G Wynspeare's Herbet's Studio in Lancaster. My Nan is the lady with the curly hair.

1929
Submitted by Katarzyna

c1930
Everyday Wear Submitted by Tom Tom	My great great grandad John Gregory

1931 - 1940

1930s
Lancashire mill town ladies. Submitted by Jill on the A272

Early 1930's
Day trip to Whitby. Submitted by Jill on the A272

1932
Submitted by Rachel Scand	This Picture was taken in Ireland in 1932.

1940
Submitted by LangleyValeSue

1941 - 1950

1941
Submitted by Katarzyna

1944
Everyday clothing. Submitted by Langley Vale Sue

1946
Submitted by LangleyValeSue	Although the photo was taken in England, the man's clothing was bought in his native Canada.

1947
Working class man. Submitted by Jill on the A272	Newly married, he stands outside the marital home, a former Canadian wartime temporary barrack in Sussex. His pullover was knitted by his wife.

1948
Submitted by Katarzyna

1950
Submitted by Velma Dinkley	This is a photo of my father and his mother on Whit Sunday 1950, returning home from a stroll along Eastbourne seafront.

1951 - 1960


Submitted by Pat Hope	My mum Anne Gleaves on the left with Dad's sister Muriel Gleaves

1951
Submitted by Katarzyna

1954
Submitted by Katarzyna

1956
Submitted by Katarzyna

1956
Submitted by Bo the Bodger	My late grandmother Phyllys Pigott at my mother's wedding. She was 5' 10" in stocking feet and in this photo has at least 2" heels on!

1957
Submitted by LangleyValeSue	This was taken on my grandmother's first visit to England since she emigrated to Canada in 1911. Note the hat - even on a trip to Chessington Zoo!