COURSE work proved to be a time warp and weft as young costume makers helped bring a North-East museum to life.
Costume students from Cleveland College of Art and Design spent 14 weeks researching to the last stitch and reproducing Victorian garb.
An array of historically accurate costumes, ranging from a policeman to an ironmonger, tearoom maid to violin maker, Victorian ladies to quintessentially English gentlemen, were modelled for the day at Preston Park Museum and grounds in a joint project to increase the profiles of both organisations.
Thirteen Level 5 second year students were set the challenge of researching the 1890s period dress, sourcing materials as close to the originals as possible and using Victorian sewing techniques to create the costumes.
The result was an accurate portrayal of clothes worn during the period when Britain ruled the waves.
Costume lecturer Julie Archer was delighted with the work of the students, who come from Hartlepool, Stockton, Billingham, Darlington, Barnard Castle, Newcastle, Washington, London, Leeds and Liverpool.
“They are an exceptionally good group of students; full of enthusiasm, highly skilled, committed and dedicated. The standard of their work was very high and the museum, which features a Victorian street scene, was delighted.”
Museum exhibition officer Mark Tindle added: “We are very proud of our Victorian street and to see it come to life with performers in superb costumes was a real pleasure. Both the quality of the pieces and the understanding that the students showed of the period was fantastic to see.”
The costumes will be on display for the next month in the Church Square Gallery, Hartlepool, before returning to Preston Hall Museum for the summer.
In the past, students from the course have gone on to secure top jobs in the film, theatre and heritage industries as well as in events planning.
For more information on courses at CCAD contact (01642) 288888 or log on to www.ccad.ac.uk.
For more information about Preston Park Museum & Grounds contact (01642) 527375 or log on towww.prestonparkmuseum.co.uk.
