Rise of the Marsh Woman

Osier-Peeling from Pictures of East Anglian Life, 1888, P H Emerson

Replica Costume for Broads Museum

Many Thanks to C&TA member, historic costumes expert Jane Snowdon, who has used rare old photographs to recreate a typical outfit worn by a ‘Marsh Woman’ working on the Norfolk Broads in the nineteenth century. The costume now takes pride of place in the Wind Energy Museum’s ‘Life on the Marsh’ display. 

Their successful collaboration came about after the museum approached the C&TA for help and Jane volunteered to take on the project.   Inspiration came from photographs of rural agricultural workers taken by renowned naturalist and photographer Peter Henry Emerson (1856–1936) which record this now lost way of life.   Following Jane's original research, the C&TA was able to source a vintage pattern from the US featuring a a dropped yoke design similar to the distinctive style the Marsh Women favoured and Jane used her needlework skills to recreate the historical costume, making it as authentic as possible, to help bring the Marsh Woman back to life.  The display has proved so popular that the museum are planning to expand it next year.
 
The Wind Energy Museum is in Repps with Bastwick close to the River Thurne in Norfolk. It is home to a unique collection of historic wind power machines from the UK and abroad and gives working demonstrations showing Norfolk's extraordinary drainage history.

Open July to September each Thursday and Friday between the hours of 10.30am to 4.30pm.  
 
https://windenergymuseum.co.uk/