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This smock originally came from Kingweston, Somerset, where it had been kept and sometimes worn, for at least three generations of the donor's family. It buttons all the way down the front, like a jacket, and is made of linen, with bone buttons.

One Smock: fabric (linen); bone buttons; good condition.

Citation in publication [Oliver, Tina, 'Smocks: A Guide to the Collections' (Reading: The University of Reading, 2000)] – 'Originating from Somerset, this is a coat type smock of heavyweight twill weave cotton. The garment differs from other smocks in that it has tucks to control the fullness instead of smocked gathering and minimal feather stitching for decoration of the panels, collar, cuffs and pocket flaps.' p.13, Letter, Miss C. E. Lawrence to the curator, 1 August 1956 - 'I shold be very pleased if you could accept the enclosed smock for the museum [...] My mother had it from Somerset, I do not know its age, I think she must have had it from her parents who lived there (at Kingweston) [...] on 20 years ago. I have heard mother say the smock used to be worn, she was first ever 80 years when she died last year.', MERL ‘Associated information’ form – ‘Age: 19th century // Name and address of present owner: Miss C. E. Lawrence, Upper Woolhampton, near Reading // Description: Somerset smock which is buttoned right down the front like a jacket. Probably from Kingweston. [pencil sketch]’, MERL Catalogue Form (temporary) – ‘Sheet 1 of 3 // Identification: Class: personal, clothing garment // Materials: light brown linen, fawn thread, bone buttons // Description: Condition: good // Dimensions: total length; 92cm // collar depth; 15cm // cuffs depth; 5cm // Interest: Association: probable place of origin; Associate: Somerset Kingsweston // cur. pho.: 60/2784, 60/2785 // Acquisition: Source: Miss C. E. Lawrence, Upper Woolhampton, Reading // Method: gift // date: 1956 [page break] Description: handsewn // style: fly front buttoned with 5 bone buttons inside, open [...], otherwise style as round frock but tucked not gathered; // collar: two pieces joined with rounded edges at front and pointed back with tip sewn to garment; // cuffs: straight bands, 2 bone buttons; // pockets: set in across side seams, flaps, 1 bone button on each. // tucks: front and back tucked (stitched down both edges) with 3 tucks each side of front opening, 6 tucks across back, stitching ending around hip level; // Sleeves – 2 small tucks at top, cuffs – 4 tucks above cuff. // embroidery: all tucks have top stitching, otherwise feather stitch, boxes – vertical lines, collar – 4 rows around edge, cuffs – 1 row, shoulders – horizontal lines, pocket flaps – 1 row // Sheet 2 of 3 // Dimensions: pocket flap ht x w; 7 x 22cm // tucks each front, back, and cuffs width; 3.5cm // tucks, sleeves, width; 2.5cm // Sheet 3 of 3 // Dimensions: hem circumference; 180cm’

Kingweston

Nineteenth century

Fibre, flax, Fibre, Bone

Stitched, Smocked, Embroidered

Lawrence, Miss C. E. (Owner)