Hi Emma,

I'm the PR for Doddington Hall. Justine has asked me to send you some copy and an image for the forthcoming wedding dress exhibition that starts 1 August. I have pasted below the release but please let me know if you would like to edited etc., just let me know your word count. Two angles you may like are that if you come on 15 August in a wedding dress, you get in for free and also all couples coming may enter into a draw to win wedding venue hire at Doddington. Here are the links for this:

http://www.doddingtonhall.com/calendar/event/546

http://www.doddingtonhall.com/calendar/event/547

And here's a link for the actual event itself:  http://www.doddingtonhall.com/calendar/event/483

The image attached is of: Claire Birch, owner of Doddington Hall, wearing her 1986 wediing dress with, from left, the dress of Lizzie Milligan-Manby from Wykeham Hall Farm Lincolnshire and an Elizabethan-style dress by designer Angela Vickers.  

Regards

Amy

STARTS

PRESS RELEASE

DRESS EXHIBITION MARRIES PAST & PRESENT, UNUSUAL & HISTORIC

An exhibition of unusual, interesting and historic wedding dresses will be taking place during August at Doddington Hall near Lincoln, promising a fascinating collection of approximately 45 dresses from around the county and further afield. The exhibition is supported by a grant from Renaissance East Midlands.

Stately homes from around Lincolnshire will be represented. As well as dresses from the Jarvis family at Doddington including Victoria Jarvis' 1960s Hardy Amies dress and current owner Claire Birch's 1983 Droopy & Brown 'Princess Diana-Inspired' dress, visitors can see the 1997 Ben de Lisi silk and crystal dress belonging to Miranda Rock of Burghley House; both the wedding dress and wedding kimono belonging to Rie Day of Fulbeck Hall; the white silk Princess-line dress with hand-sown pearls and train later used for christenings worn by Easton Walled Garden's Lady Ursula Cholmeley and a dress designed by Miss Sara Perceval for the daughter of Shervie Price, owner of Harrington Hall near Spilsby. Also included is the wedding dress gifted to Lady Ursula d'Abo of Belvoir Castle – cited as one of The Queen's most beautiful Maids of Honour at her Coronation - by the Maharani of Jaipur in 1946/7.

Dresses of historical interest are included. As well as exact copies of the dresses worn by Lady Diana Spencer and Lady Jayne Grey, also secured is the dress worn in 1820 by the illegitimate daughter of George IV, who was just 12 years old when she married. The tiny dress is edged with ribbon and net lace with leg o'mutton sleeves.

Unusual & local interest dresses will be displayed. These include a black wedding dress, a wedding dress for dogs, a knitted dress and a dress made from Lincolnshire Longwool by a shepherdess. Dresses worn in recent years at weddings held at Doddington Hall will be making a return. Dresses belonging to staff at the Hall have also been loaned, including the Nepalese dress belonging to Gauri Limbu. A 1907 silk dress owned by a lady from Skellingthorpe is included, as is a 1940's gold silk dress worn at a Horncastle wedding. One Skegness dress was worn twice – firstly in 1947 by Mrs Tebb and then again in 1995 by her granddaughter Nola Shaw. A 1939 dress from Boston will be displayed - made of silk painted with flowers the dress was worn many times afterwards as was the practice in post-war Britain. A 1920s dress has been lent, as have a couple from the 1960s.

'Old, New, Mostly Borrowed & One Blue' will be held in the Long Gallery at Doddington Hall & Garden every Wednesday, Sunday & Bank Holiday Monday 1pm to 5pm 1 August to 10 September. Exhibition included in admission. For more information, please see www.doddingtonhall.com or call 01522 694 308.

You can follow organiser Fiona Baker's fascinating blog on http://www.doddingtonexhibition.blogspot.com/

ENDS

For press assistance (not for publication), kindly contact Amy Claridge on 01522 698 698 / 07770 764446.   

About Doddington Hall: Doddington Hall is a much loved family home and has never been sold since it was designed in 1595 by Robert Smythson, one of England's foremost Elizabethan architects. The mellow brick exterior with its walled courtyards has barely changed while the interior was redecorated in Georgian times in a light and elegant style. The original walled courtyards now enclose fabulous formal gardens whilst beyond the walls you will discover romantic wild gardens and nature walks. Over 400 years of unbroken family occupation has resulted in fascinating collections of furniture, paintings, ceramics, textiles, porcelain, household objects along with a wealth of amusing stories. A visit to Doddington offers a unique insight into family life through the ages and the challenges of looking after such a house in the 21st Century.

In 2005, Antony & Victoria Jarvis passed Doddington Hall to their eldest daughter Claire, and her husband James Birch. Claire & James are the fifth family to enjoy the role of 'guardian' to Doddington Hall.

Amy Claridge MCIPR
Precursor PR & Creative
PO BOX 1052
Doddington
Lincoln
LN6 4WZ

  t 01522 698 698
m 07770 764446
www.precursor.co.uk

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