This autumn and winter, an East Yorkshire historic house is “revealing all” at a new display exploring the unseen side of fashion history.
Grade I listed Sewerby Hall is displaying mannequins showcasing styles and types of underwear from the past 500 years, including petticoats, corsets and bustles.
Visitors can discover a history of hidden layers through the unusual display, offering a rare glimpse beneath the surface of historical costumes.
From 8 November until March 2026, ‘Underwear Autumn’ features a mix of original and reproduction items with 10 mannequins adorned in under garments from across the centuries.
Highlights include Tudor blackwork embroidery and Queen Elizabeth I effigy stays, Georgian petticoats and pockets, Regency chemises and Edwardian corsetry.
One of the items on display is the iconic Victorian lobster tail bustle, circa 1880s, which marked a dramatic shift in fashion from rounded fullness to a more sculpted silhouette. The exaggerated form of the lobster tail bustle was created to emphasise volume, contributing greatly to the evolution of female fashion.
The garments will be on show in different rooms of the house including the Blue Bedroom, Dining Room and Drawing Room. The reproduction items have been made by Sewerby Hall’s volunteer team.
During the autumn and winter, Sewerby Hall will be open weekends only. The exhibition is included in normal House admission (from £4.50 adults and £3.50 children, 3-15 years).
For more details, visit www.sewerbyhall.co.uk
For general tourist information on East Yorkshire as a destination, see www.visiteastyorkshire.co.uk
