The History Wardrobe

‘The History Wardrobe’ was created by Gillian Stapleton and Lucy Adlington, as a lively and original way to teach fashion history.

Gillian Stapleton is an experienced costume historian who has been studying and re-creating replica items for over twenty years, working closely with local museums. She makes all the exquisite items used for the History Wardrobe presentations and has a select collection of period items and fashion plates. She specialises in the Regency period and knows an amazing amount about Mr Darcy’s underwear...
She’s also got a strong background in stage combat!

Lucy Adlington runs the History group ‘Century Adventures’, which provides History workshops for schools, museums and heritage sites such as Castle Howard, Osborne House, Bath Theatre Royal and even Cambridge University. She specialises in the History of medicine, but also has an extensive collection of vintage costume. Not so handy with a sword as Gillian, Lucy is a keen footballer & also writes. Her first two novels are published by Hodder Headline.

With two other colleagues Gillian and Lucy offer twelve costume presentations, from the exuberant fripperies of the Restoration period, up to the glamour of a 1940s wedding.

And if it’s not clear enough from our performances - we love our job!