- Tamworth Castle teams up with South Staffordshire College to celebrate Victorian fashion and craftsmanship
- A striking castle illumination launches the project on Friday 13 February
- A public exhibition of student-made Victorian-inspired garments opens on Saturday 14 February
In partnership with students from South Staffordshire College, Tamworth Borough Council is excited to shine a spotlight on Victorian fashion, history and creativity with ‘Threads of Victoria’, a new illumination and exhibition.
The project brings together the castle’s rich Victorian heritage with the fresh ideas from the next generation of fashion and textile makers. Inspired by rare fabric samples in Tamworth Castle’s collection, originally linked to Queen Victoria’s 1843 visit to Tamworth to meet Prime Minister Sir Robert Peel at Drayton Manor, students have explored the colour, detail and craftsmanship of 19th-century textiles.
Those historic materials, once used to dress Queen Victoria herself, have now inspired 22 Fashion and Textiles students from South Staffordshire College to design and create their own Victorian-inspired garments.
The project forms part of the castle’s heritage crafts programme, funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF). Students took part in a series of hands-on workshops led by heritage craft specialists, learning traditional techniques including lace-making and Victorian costume construction.
Castle Illumination - Friday 13 February
Threads of Victoria launches with a special evening illumination of Tamworth Castle, offering a visual preview of the exhibition to come. People are invited to view this stunning preview from the Castle Grounds by the Bandstand from 7.30pm for a 10-minute display.
The projection will weave together student photography and video, documentation of heritage craft workshops, hand-drawn sketches, garment designs and reflections from the students themselves. Victorian music and clear, public-friendly interpretation will reference Queen Victoria’s visit and highlight the exhibition dates.
The illumination is designed to feel celebratory and collaborative, showcasing Tamworth’s Victorian heritage and the creative partnership between the castle and the college.
Exhibition - opens Saturday 14 February – 15 March
The exhibition opens to the public on Saturday 14 February in the Withdrawing Room at Tamworth Castle.
Visitors will be able to see:
- 22 student-made Victorian-inspired garments and undergarments displayed on mannequins.
- Selected Victorian objects from Tamworth Castle’s collections.
- Historic sample fabrics from Queen Victoria’s dresses.
The exhibition opens in time for February half-term and runs alongside a separate but linked Victoriana family trail, taking place throughout half-term as part of the castle’s wider Victorian programme. Additional Victorian craft workshop sessions are available on select days in the castle’s Oak Room:
- Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 February
- Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 February 10am – 4.30pm.
The workshops are being led by Historical Costumier, Maya Howes, who will be delivering drop-in, hands-on Victorian-inspired craft activities, including ‘have-a-go’ Victorian embroidery, hand stitching using Victorian-inspired fabrics (Plastic needles for younger children and real needles for older children and adults), and Victorian paper doll making.
These craft workshops and are included with general admission but will have limited spaces.
Standard castle admission fees apply for both the exhibition and the family trail. Opening days and times vary during the exhibition period, so visitors are advised to check the Tamworth Castle website before visiting: www.tamworthcastle.co.uk
Councillor Lewis Smith, portfolio holder for people services, leisure and engagement, heritage, said: “I’m looking forward to seeing this unique exhibition, curated by our town’s young people. Threads of Victoria is a wonderful example of how we can bring our local heritage to life in new and creative ways.
“By working with young people and giving them access to our historic collections, we’re not only celebrating Tamworth’s Victorian past, but also supporting skills, creativity and confidence for the future. The illumination and exhibition promise to be something really special for our residents and visitors to see.”