51/246

Reversible smock with heart and flower embroidered motifs. Made from white drabbet and smocked with white linen thread. The smock is reversible although the back opening has been sewn up. The front, back and sleeves above the cuffs are smocked. There are two pockets across the side seams with flaps. The collar is simply embroidered. The origin of this smock is not clear it may have been worn by a ferreter on Lord Hambledon's estate at Leigh in Kent or worn by Shepherd Wiggins of Hayley in Glouchestershire, or another smock entirely.

1 smock: white drabbet, linen thread

MERL miscellaneous note – 'These two smocks [51/246 & 51/258] are part of the Massingham Collection of Rural Bygones. // The information in the files together with the photograph of these smocks has always been considered correct but // 51/246M. File information and photograph feature a smock with elaborate smocking and states that it belonged to shepherd Wiggins. It is, however, noted that it “seems a strange pattern for a shepherd.” // 51/258M. This is a much plainer smock which is said to have come from Kent via a lady called Mrs McCauley. // The smock featured in Massingham’s book “Country Relics”, which belonged to Shepherd Wiggins is described as having “none of the elaborate smocking and feather stitching… which make many shepherd’s smocks…” // *IT SEEMS THAT 51/258M IS ACTUALLY SHEPHERD WIGGIN’S SMOCK.* // Tina Oliver who did an in depth study of the smock collections feels that the description in "Country Relics" does not relate to either of these smocks and might describe a completely different garment.', Citation in publication [Oliver, Tina, 'Smocks: A Guide to the Collections' (Reading: The University of Reading, 2000)] – 'The first two smocks in the mseum were accessioned in 1951 as part of the H J Massingham collection of objects. During his lifetime he collected a large number of rural lifestyle, country craft and agriculture related objects. (51/13M-51/258M) H J Massingham researched and wrote extensively on all aspects of English rural life, much of his work was published during the 1930s and 40s. His document collection of papers, published material and photographs is in the RHC archives. (DX225) // 51/246M A smock originating from Kent and worn by a ferreter working on an estate during the first half of the 19th century. It is said that his wife wove the fabric and made the reversible smock. The garment is constructed of twill weave cotton; the smocked areas are simple and coarsely stitched, the embroidered side panels include heart and flower motifs. The smocked panels and ambroidery design are identical to that of smock 53/645' (p.5), MERL list / description [Massingham Collection, October 1989] – 'ACC. NO.: 51/246 // NAME: SMOCK // NEG NO.: 35/1216 + OTHERS // STORAGE: ', MERL 'Catalogue index' card – ‘Smock // DATE ACQUIRED: January, 1951 // GROUP: // NEGATIVE: // PERIOD: early 20th century // PLACE OF ORIGIN: The H.J. Massingham collection // NUMBER: 51/246M // DESCRIPTION: This smock is thought to be one which was worn by Shepherd Wiggins of Hayley Glos., who died about 1915 aged 93. He wore it during the last few years of his life and would never go out of doors without it. It was made by one of his daughters. For 60 years he had been shepherd on the land about Hayles Abbey and was well known in the surrounding district, at Winchcomb, Stanton and the Stanways. He had a certificate for rearing 173 lambs from 135 short-wooled ewes, 60 of them being 'theaves' (shearing ewes). // This smock is white drabbet, sewn with thick white twisted linen thread, and is of the reversible type, though the neck opening at the back has been sewn up. It has two pockets with lids, which have obviously had a fair amount of use. The tubing, which is fairly coarsely smocked, is 8.5 inches wide by 10.5 inches long at the front and the back, the cuffs are also smocked. The boxes each have a spiral flower with leaves, at the top and bottom, and in the middle are two horizontal hearts with tips overlapping. This seems a strange pattern for a shepherd, it would rather suggest a gardener or milkmaid, though it looks as it it were made for a man. The shoulder straps and pocket lids are plain, while the collar has a simple geometric design embroidered on it. // The smock is 41 inches from shoulder to hem. The hem is 74 inches in circumference, and there are 4.5 inch slits at the bottom of either side seam. // See also 51/258M‘

1800-01-01 - 1849-12-31

Nineteenth century, first half

Fibre, cotton, Fibre, flax

Stitched, Embroidered, Woven, Smocked