Clothes for Work

Through family folklore, we are told that this striking woollen cloak was worn in Mobberley in Cheshire by a country bride arriving for her wedding. Made of scarlet cloth, the cloak has been milled to make it more weatherproof and cut with a protective hood and quilted collar for warmth. Red cloaks like this were worn by all classes of women, in towns, or more especially, in rural areas, and they were often noted by foreign visitors as being traditional to England. These cloaks were sold ready-made in many milliner's or draper's shops, or by pedlars calling at the door. As this was for a special occasion, this cloak is a particularly smart one, with silk lined hood and using very good quality wool. It is probably similar to the "scarlet cloake" costing 9 shillings and 6 pence (47p) in the shop stock of the draper William Bracegirdle of Stockport in 1751, which also included cheaper "shagg" cloaks at only 5 shillings and 6 pence (27p).

Red cloaks were also used to dress dolls as country figures such as pedlars or fisher women, and from about 1800, they are depicted in picturesque prints showing rural scenes, worn by country women, or as here, by gypsies. The hood could be used to carry shopping or other possession, or even a young baby, as in the 1814 print shown below.

Full item descriptions:

"cloak" [1951.114]
"doll (pedlar - Sarah Thrifty)" [1922.566]
"Picturesque Representations of the Dress and Manners of the English" [1986.232], Murray, Mr John, W. Bulmer & Co.

Related Themes:

Dolls