Last updated 13:38, Thursday, 27 March 2008

Lady Dorothy Howard, daughter of George Howard (ninth Earl of Carlisle) and wife of Lord Henley, wore this dress. She was lady-in-waiting to Princess Louise, artist and daughter of Queen Victoria.

Height of fashion: This dress, worn by Lady Dorothy Howard, daughter of the ninth Earl of Carlisle, and lady-in-waiting to Princess Louise, was made by Liberty and Company of Regent Street in a style influenced by the William Morris design movement. The jug, above, marks Princess Louise’s visit to the city and features the Irish Gate and law courts

Princess Louise visited Carlisle on September 20th 1877. The Princess and her husband the Marquis of Lorne officialy opened Victoria Viaduct and the Princess Louise Ward at the Cumberland Infirmary.

The royal couple passed through a series of highly decorative arches that marked the royal route between the city and the infirmary. Princess Louise was later was treated to an elaborate, eastern-style bazaar in Victoria Hall that raised £3,376 for the new hospital ward.

This beautiful dress of turquoise figured silk satin and cream chiffon was made by Liberty and Company, 222 Regent Street, London.

Artistic dresses were popular from 1900 with the wealthy. The Arts and Crafts movement championed by William Morris (1834-1896) influenced the styles. Women who did not want to follow convention favoured these clothes.

The dress is currently on display in Tullie House’s new permanent local history gallery ‘Carlisle Life’ alongside a rather fine jug commemorating the visit of Princess Louise which displays the Irish Gate and Law Courts.

The dress was purchased with help from the Friends of Tullie House for the city’s museum collection in 1975.