Dress & Display

Evidence of the dress worn by Roman soldiers is apparent with the discovery of buckles and hooks from their armour. Archaeological finds in the form of brooches and rings are the only components of Roman civilian dress in the collections.

From the Medieval and Tudor periods there is similar evidence and the picture is filled out a little with organic finds of leather and occasional pieces of cloth. Important evidence for defensive dress during the Civil War is represented by the museum's collection of Exeter's armour. With the series of city portraits starting in Elizabeth’s reign the subject can be studied more fully and these indicate how spectacular provincial dress could be in the following century. From the late 18th,19th and twentieth centuries the museum holds a very substantial costume collection, some of it relating to city families, and elements of it made or sold to the city. These may be consulted by prior arrangement with the museum.