A 'Sister Dora' Nurse's Cap
This cap was made by the company 'Sister Dora' which would have taken its name from the well loved Anglican nun and nurse Sister Dora from Walsall (1832-1878).
This type of small white cap was worn ...
Astrakhan Muff, mid 20th Century
This muff is made out of 'Astrakhan' which is the fur of young lambs from the area of Astrakhan a city South West of Russia.
It has lustrous, closely curled wool.
Beige Wedding Jacket, 1920s
This silk jacket was worn by Emily Beech of Black Bank, Silverdale at her wedding in 1927.
It demonstrates the flapper style of the ‘Roaring Twenties.’
This was a very boyish fashion trend compared ...
Black Cocktail Dress, 1950s
This 1950s black cocktail dress would have been all the rage in its day.
Fuller skirts became popular in the 1950s because of the end of rationing.
Women wanted less utilitarian fashion and Christian ...
Black Corselet, 1940s - 1950s
Corselets are a combination of bra and corset.
The corselet came about in around 1914 as women did not want to wear both a corset and a bra.
This is a later example from the 1940s or 1950s when they ...
Black Evening Bag, c.1920 -1930
This small bag is made out of black crepe fabric with a circular diamante clasp.
It has a short fabric handle and is a little worn from use along the top edge.
Black Paisley Shawl, c.1840-1880
This beautiful shawl is made out of black silk with a coloured paisley pattern covering the entire piece and a fringe trim.
Paisley shawls were in fashion for nearly 100 years from around 1780 to 1870s. ...
Black Straw Poke Bonnet, c.1850-1880
This example is made out of straw and is trimmed in lace and feathers.
A beautiful floral decoration on the left hand side breaks up the dark colouring and makes it less formal.
The cotton ribbon ...
Blue and White Clasp Bag, c.1920-1970
This handbag is made out of small metal discs sewn on to a metal frame with a metal chain.
The bag is made entirely out of metal and was used as evening wear, as the bag is quite small.
We're not entirely ...
Blue Cotton Shawl, c.1850-1880
This shawl is made out of blue cotton with a red woven pattern around the edge and blue tassels.
Blue Wedding Dress, 1920s
This wedding dress was worn by Lucy Harvey when she married Bill Hughes in the 1920s.
It demonstrates the flapper style of the ‘Roaring Twenties.’
It is shorter in length and would have been worn ...
Bodice with leg o'mutton sleeves, c.1895-1906
At the turn of the century people started to move away from the extravagance of the previous decades, as the crinoline and bustle died away. Instead people went with a more A-line silhouette and to make ...
Bridesmaid's bonnet, 1940s
This is a child's bonnet that was worn for a wedding.
It has the style of a Victorian 'poke' bonnet.
It was worn by the donor Beryl Brindley (nee Hope) for her cousin Margaret's wedding.
The wedding ...
Brown Fox Fur Stole c.1930 -1960
This would have been worn between the 1930 and 1950s.
This brown fox is complete with head, legs and tail as was fashionable at the time.
Brown Fur Cape, c.1920-1940
This cape was made in the 1920s or 1930s by the company Alexander Wilkie in Edinburgh.
The length and style of the cape indicates that it was used by a woman on formal occasions.
Bull's Bank, Lower Street , Newcastle-under-Lyme
This photograph of Bull's Bank off Lower Street and behind St. Giles' Church is typical of the crowded housing that existed in some areas of Newcastle-under-Lyme until the late 1960s.
The cramped ...
Bull's Bank, Lower Street, Newcastle-under-Lyme
Taken in 1935 this picture of Bull's Bank in Newcastle-under-Lyme takes in the tower of St. Giles' Church, the alleyway that leads to the churchyard and three of the terraced houses that surrounded the ...
Catherine Street, May Bank, Newcastle-under-Lyme
A family sitting outside Smelters Row at the bottom of Catherine Street, May Bank.