Museum Blog

Old English agricultural smocks are not particularly rare ... in England. But the Whanganui Regional Museum has a collection of them, as chosen by staff member Liz Hamblyn for "Vaults''.
New Zealanders would be familiar with the garments from comedy routines by Ronnies Corbett and Barker, complete with Somerset accents and a funny song. But as a utilitarian garment?
Two of the garments are in the traditional - as we know it - pale linen, heavily smocked and made to last. The older dates to the 1820s, the other around 1890, and both are still in wearable condition.
"What was interesting was the settlers brought them here,'' says Liz, "but they were useless out here. They're not something you'd use to clear the bush.''
Furthermore, New Zealand's egalitarian society precluded the use of such an obvious class-defining garment. "It didn't matter if you were the son of an Earl or a farm labourer, you had to clear the bush. Because clothing was expensive and hard to get, men often stripped to their underwear to work.''
The smocks were handmade and "smocked'' by women family members and, as such, would have been prized possessions, even if never worn. That would account for their existence and good condition today. "That would show the value of the article,'' says Liz. Even the buttons are still intact on both smocks.
Apparently, the decorative stitching indicated region and occupation.
Another, shorter, smock, in indigo, is from the Isle of Wight.
"Remember the New Zealand Company was portraying this country as Arcadia, full of fluffy sheep, short grass and friendly natives.'' In such an environment the farmers' smocks would have been perfectly suitable. The reality was very different.
Liz chose the smocks from a textile point of view, "and for the work that has gone into what is essentially a garment to wear around the farm.''
The smock fell out of favour with the rise of industry but the stitch gained favour among the middle classes, abroad. Many New Zealand families would have christening gowns decorated with smocking.

Original article appeared in the 'Wanganui Midweek on 19th June 2013, and republished here with permission from the editors.