Evening Talk: From Fields to Factories
What can a simple garment tell us about work, industry and everyday life in the nineteenth century?
Join dress and textile expert Alison Topliss for a fascinating exploration of the smock frock, an iconic item of clothing once worn by working men across Britain. From agricultural labourers in the countryside to workers in growing industrial towns, smocks reveal a remarkable story about the lives, fashions and communities of the past.
Discover Newark's important role as a centre for smock production and examine original examples that showcase the craftsmanship, practicality and distinctive style of these everyday garments. As fashions changed and traditional ways of life disappeared, the smock found a new place in the wardrobes of women and children, becoming a nostalgic symbol of a vanishing rural England.
Ticket Information
Standard Admission: £10
Concession: £3
Free to under 25s
Age guidance: 14+