A Brief History of the Collection
In 1967 three people, who all had an interest in historic dress, put on their first dress parade for charity. This was to become the foundation of the Devonshire Collection of Period Costume. Peter Clapham, Paula Morel and Annette Kok (later Morel) knew each other through theatre and each owned a collection of period dress, used for research purposes.
Founders Paula Morel, Annette Morel and Peter Clapham with the long-time honorary Curator, Julia Fox
They decided to combine their individual collections, and these became the foundation of the Devonshire Collection of Period Costume. The first parade, in Oldway Mansion, was such a success that there were many requests for a repeat. In these early stages the garments were shown in carefully mounted and detailed parades, presented in stately homes in Devon in aid of various charities.
During this period the work of the Collection became widely known and in 1972, at the suggestion of the Victoria and Albert Museum, it was included in the BBC television series, Collectors’ World. As a result of this wider publicity, many interesting and valuable items were presented to the Devonshire Collection. It became obvious that a permanent home should be found and in 1974 the first summer exhibition was opened at 10a High Street, Totnes. A new exhibition was then mounted almost every year until 2024.
In 1987, thanks to the generous interest of the late Douglas and Priscilla Mitchell, the Collection moved to more spacious premises at Bogan House, opposite the Market Square in Totnes, and became a museum — The Totnes Fashion & Textiles Museum.
When Bogan House ceased to be available for the Museum exhibitions, the Trustees decided that the best way of keeping the Collection together was to loan it in its entirety to the University of Falmouth Institute of Fashion and Textiles. It is now installed in a new climate-controlled facility and available for use in support of the educational and research objectives of the University and to the public by physical and virtual means.
Over the years of its existence the Collection, through the inspired enthusiasm of its original founders and subsequent custodians, has become established as an extensive and much valued collection of period dress, unique of its kind.