55/780

This Buckinghamshire smock was woven and sewn by a member of the donor’s family in Ashendon, Kent, in the early nineteenth century. It was worn by the donor’s father, grandfather (a cowman) and great grandfather (a shepherd) at Harpers Farm in Ashendon. Her father wore it for best only, with a red knotted handkerchief. It is a round frock, with a straight collar and no pockets. It is embroidered with feather stitching with boxes, circles, lines and triangles.

1 smock: white linen and thread; fair condition

Citation in publication [Oliver, Tina, 'Smocks: A Guide to the Collections' (Reading: The University of Reading, 2000)] – 'In November 1955 this reversible smock was considered by the donor to be about 150 years old. It was worn by her father as 'sunday best', and by her grandfather and great grandfather in the course of their occupations as cowman and shepherd on a farm in Ashendon, Buckinghamshire. The donor, aged 71, wrote that as a young girl she remembered her father wearing the smock with a red knotted handkerchief around his neck, her father died in 1929 aged 84. The donor also recalled a spinning wheel in the house and suggested that a member of her family wove the fabric for the smock. // This is a good quality linen garment, well constructed, without pockets, and with closely worked smocking and elaborate embroidery. The design includes closely stitched circles, scrolls and zigzags, repeated on the yoke and collar. The smocked panels on the sleeves have a featherstitched zigzag border and the cuffs are bordered with a zigzag row. The cuff and sleeve openings fasten with hour-hole metal buttons. Considering the presumed age and usage of the smock it is in excellent condition.' p.12, Letter, B Ridler to Mr Higgs, 15 November 1955 - 'I enclose a smock which is reputed to be 150 years old.', MERL ‘Associated information’ form – 'Description of use to which it was put [...] made by member of owner's family near aylesbury, and worn by her father, grandfather and great grandfather. [pencil sketch] [page break] Name and address of present owner: Mrs Clemetson [...] Shinfield // [pencil sketch] [page break] Age: Early nineteenth century. // Who made it and where?: Made by a member of the owners family at Ashendon, nr Aylesbury, Bucks. // Who used it and where?: Used by father, grandfather & great grandfather of Mrs Clemetson at Harpers Farm Ashendon. // How was it used (if not obvious): Worn by her father as Sunday best with red knotted handkerchief. The grandparents wore it in their daily occupation as cowman & shepherd. // Any other information: Mrs Clemetson is aged 71 & as a girl saw her father wearing the smock. The original spinning wheel was in the house. According to Mrs Clemetson the smock was hand woven by a member of her family. Her father died in 1929 aged 84. The smock has been thoroughly washed having been soiled in a bombing incident during the war.', MERL ‘Temporary Catalogue’ form – ‘Sheet 1 of 2 // Condition: fair // Material(s): white linen, white thread // Dimensions: total length; 115cm // underarm sleeve length; 45cm //collar depth; 16cm // cuffs depth; 5cm // Notes (continued overleaf): Description: handsewn; style: round frock; collar: two straight pieces; cuffs: straight bands, two buttons on sleeve no pockets [page break] tubing: outline cable and points, back and front – 53 rows, sleeves& top – 7 rows, above cuffs – 19 rows // embroidery: feather stitching, boxes – 5 circles on each with decorative border, of lines and triangles, shoulders and cuffs – rows of feather stitching // History: made by member of donor’s family, handwoven and sewn, donor (aged 71 in 1955) saw her father (d. 1829 [1929] aged 84) wearing smock. He wore it only for best, with a red knotted handkerchief, but it was previously worn by grandfather and great grandfather as cowman and shepherd {donor} // Conservation: washed thoroughly by donor (as soiled in bombing accident) // Sheet 2 of 2 // Association: donor's father born [...] 1845 // "" died [...] 1929’, Photographic prints - [text on paper sleeve] 'Acc. No. 55/780 // 60/1180 // 1136 // 1179'

Ashendon

1800-01-01 - 1824-12-31

Early-nineteenth century

Fibre, flax, Fibre

Stitched, Smocked, Embroidered

National Institute for Research in Dairying (Agent)