Victorian re-enactors switch to modern dress in heat

8 hours ago

Andy GiddingsWest Midlands

BBC A woman with grey hair, glasses and a white blouse is sitting in front of a large window. — Shirley Chisholm changed the Victorian outfit she usually wears at the museum for her own clothes

A living history museum has given its staff rare permission to wear their own clothes this week because of the heat.

Normally the workers at Blists Hill Victorian Town in Shropshire wear clothing from the 19th century, to play the roles of the people of the time.

But with temperatures above 30C (86F) this week, the National Trust said it was better for them to be comfortable.

Shirley Chisholm, who normally dresses as a Victorian chemist shop assistant, said it felt "really odd" to be out of costume but added: "We're really grateful for that."

She explained it would have been "very shameful for a woman to be dressed like this in Victorian times".

Normally, she would wear several layers of clothing, including a large dress, and that was typical of the time.

"It would have caused a bit of a social stir if a respectable woman had gone out in the street without even her hat on," she said.

She also said she felt the visitors understood the decision.

A man in a flat cap, white shirt and waistcoat sitting in a room with red walls beside a piano — Guy Rowland said he was feeling the heat in his Victorian moleskin trousers

Guy Rowland is a well-known figure at the attraction, playing the roles of police constable and schoolmaster.

He said: "It's a sensible thing because you've got to do basically what's comfortable for you."

But he was one of the few who decided to keep wearing the clothing of the time.

"Trying to install discipline while I was wearing shorts and a T-shirt would be next to near impossible," he joked.

Rowland had rolled his sleeves up but, nevertheless, was feeling the heat and said: "It's the first time in 27 years of working here that these moleskin trousers are absolutely sticking to me, and I must say they're not comfortable."

A man with a flat cap, round sunglasses and a pale shirt in front of a building with white washed walls. — Kin Wun said he was also grateful not to be wearing full Victorian dress

Kin Wun, who usually dresses as a Victorian post office worker or printer, complete with a bowler hat, said he was also grateful to get out of costume this week.

He said the post office "can be like a greenhouse sometimes", and added the Victorian town was quieter than usual, possibly because of the weather warning.