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Bedroom

It's September 1945 and a grandmother and granddaughter are getting dressed for a local ball to celebrate the end of British military action in the Far East.

The Second World War is usually taken to have ended on 8th May 1945 when fighting ceased in Europe. However, many British families and communities had to wait until the autumn to celebrate the homecoming of loved ones.

Costumes on display

The grandmother is wearing a black satin evening dress with a pattern of flowers and leaves in green and cream. It is in a typical 1940s style, with broad shoulders and a sweetheart neckline. New long dresses were not available to buy during the war, so it may have been adapted from an existing dress, or made from material bought before 1939.

Everyone in Britain had the same restricted access to new clothing during the war. However, the wealthier sections of society began the war with bigger wardrobes and therefore it was easier for them to ‘keep up appearances’.

Her granddaughter is wearing a red velvet dress of 1943, which has been made from adult’s clothing. This is another good example of how even wealthy people had to ‘Make do and Mend’ during the war.

Furnishings

A set of brushes and bottles on the dressing table were a wedding present to Mrs Kathleen Bibby in 1932. The hairdryer is typical of those used in the 1930s.

Country houses can be notoriously cold, even in September, therefore the grandmother has the luxury of an electric hot water bottle to ensure a good night’s sleep. A 1930s electric fire stands in the hearth.