This costume, created over forty years ago has been spotted at least ten times over the years and has almost certainly been used even more. It appears with different accessories each time. Because this gown has been used so many times, it is interesting to note how the color changes based off of the lighting in each production.  Sometimes the pattern on the gown is clearly visible, while in other productions it almost completely disappears.

The costume was first seen in the 1972 adaptation of Cranford, where it was worn by Freda Dowie as Miss Brown. In 1973 it was spotted on Vickery Turner as Charlotte Brontë in The Brontës of Haworth. In 1977 it was seen on Kate Nicholls as Kate Nickleby in Nicholas Nickleby, and the next year in 1978 on Judy Cornwell as Bessy Tulliver in The Mill on the Floss. In 1983 it was worn in Jane Eyre, where it appeared on Zelah Clark in the title role. In 1986 the dress appeared again on Sandra Payne as Mrs. Micawber in a production of David Copperfield. The dress was not seen again for eight years until it was spotted on Rachel Power as Mary Garth in the 1994 Middlemarch, and then again in 1999 in Olivier Twist, where it was worn by Annette Crosbie as Mrs. Bedwin. In 2001 the gown could be seen on an extra in Nicholas Nickleby, and finally, in 2008 it was seen on Freema Agyeman as Tattycoram in Little Dorrit.

Costume Credit: Shrewsbury Lasses

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