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The National Museum of Costume explores the history of fashion from the 1870s to the 1950s. The museum is housed in Shambellie House in Dumfries, former home of obsessive fashion collector Charles Stewart. Stewart was a landowner, ballet dancer and artist, who whilst serving as a stretcher bearer in wartime London began illustrating books. Initially he researched clothing as background to his artistic work. But then collecting clothing became an obession in itself. In 1962 Stewart inherited Shambellie House, and amassed 6000 items which he stored there. Eventually difficulties maintaining the house led to Stewart donating his house and clothing collection to the National Museums of Scotland. In this way the National Museum of Costume opened in 1982, with Stewart's collection as its core, supplemented by other items from the National Museums of Scotland stock.
The exhibition is set out in a series of rooms, setting clothes in typical social settings. Each room will pick out a particular time and event, Hogmanay 1952 for example, or a summer evening party in 1895. The room is decorated for the time, and people are dressed for the occasion. Fashion is an expression of its period, making the museum's chosen manner of display very appropriate. Special exhibitions are also held around changing themes.
There is a tearoom, and picnic tables in the garden.
Address: National Museum of Costume, Shambellie House, New Abbey, Dumfries, DG2 8HQ Scotland
Opening Times: Open daily from 1st April to 31st October, 10am - 5pm.
Directions: The museum is seven miles south of Dumfries on the A710. Click here for an interactive map centred on the National Museum of Costume.
Access: Bays at the front entrance to the house are provided for visitors with mobility problems. The path from the main road side car park is steep. The ground floor and tea room have level access, but the first floor can only be reached by stairs. Assistance dogs are admitted.
Contact:
telephone: 0300 123 6789
web site: http://www.nms.ac.uk/our_museums/museum_of_costume.aspx