The Frock Box

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The Frock Box

The Frock Box is our name for the room where the Fashion Collections of Leicestershire County Council are housed.

The Leicestershire County Council Fashion Collections are considered to be one of the pre-eminent collections in the Midlands. It tells the story of fashionable western dress from the 1750s through to the present day. The collections include thousands of garments, accessories, photographs, fashion plates, catalogues and magazines that show the changes in fashion and working clothes from the 1750s to the present day. They reflect the changing taste of local men and women, the products of Leicestershire manufacturers and retailers and the creative talents of leading designers and couturiers. The collections include the internationally famous Symington Collection of corsetry, foundation garments and swimwear, the archive of leading British fashion retailer Next, the Siddon’s Scarf Collection and the Wallis coat archive designed by Sylvia Ayton MBE. Much of the collection is available to view by appointment, please contact us to make an appointment. Telephone: 0116 3053720
Email: [email protected]

11/09/2026

🪣 Today's celebrates the marvellous Mountsorrel Bucket 🪣

The bucket enjoyed a trip out of store earlier this week to visit the 21st Leicester Boys Brigade & Girls Association who meet in Mountsorrel. A very close look was had 😄 at the bronze bucket parts which are mounted on a replica base. The fragment of original oak bucket also joined the fun.

A couple of months ago the bucket enjoyed a very different kind of attention. It was pXRF scanned by the University of Reading's REMADE project which is investigating copper alloy composition and production.

Discovered in a Romano-British well by granite workers in 1892, the bucket likely dates to the 3rd century AD. It's decoration harks back to a longer tradition beginning in the Iron Age and continuing into the Early Medieval period.

05/09/2026

The collections are out and about in Worthington, Leicestershire today to help celebrate 100 years of the local Primary School. Looking at household items that would have been familiar in the 1920s.
If you are passing pop in and see us.

18/08/2026

Fancy learning some new skills to save your clothes from landfill or give them some TLC? Then come and join us at Melton Carnegie Museum for our Care and Repair Workshops on Sat 29 August.

Make your own Needle Case 9.30am –12noon £5
Focusing on some essential techniques to make your clothing last longer. From sewing on a button, repairing a hem to patching a hole. Using your new skills, you will create a needle case to take with you at the end of the workshop.

Creative Darning 1pm – 3.30pm £10
How to use a mini darning loom for essential mending or creative embellishment of any type of clothing. Price includes darning loom complete with threads and needles to takeaway.

Suitable for 12 years plus. All equipment included. Booking essential. Please pay in full at the museum or call 0116 305 3860.

You can also see our home sewing exhibition Cut and Create while you are there!

06/08/2026

Cheers to our latest donation! 🍻 This vintage Battle of Bosworth quincentenary ale was donated by a regular visitor to Bosworth Battlefield recently. He received the limited edition brew as a gift in 1985 - 500 years after the actual battle.

It was brewed by Tom Hoskins Ltd at the Beaumanor Brewery, Leicester. This brewery had a history dating back to 1877 which developed into a very successful business across the Midlands.

If you fancy celebrating the 541st anniversary of the Battle of Bosworth then head to the upcoming Medieval Festival on 22 and 23 August.

https://www.bosworthbattlefield.org.uk/bosworth-medieval-festival-2026/

14/07/2026

🦄 Unicorn! 🦄 This tiny badge was discovered by metal detectorist Dave Dunn in Harborough District in 2024 and was reported via Portable Antiquities Scheme & Treasure

We've been getting it ready today behind the scenes, mounting it for display. Very fiddly!

This fantastic discovery has a very special link to the Battle of Bosworth.

Livery badges proclaimed the wearer’s allegiance to a particular family. The unicorn form of this badge may represent the livery of the Poynings family. Sir Edward Poynings (1459-1521) was present at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485, fighting for Henry Tudor. His banners featured a red background with a white/silver running unicorn.

Acquired under the Treasure Act 1996. Very kindly donated by finder Dave Dunn and the landowner.

The unicorn will be displayed for the first time from tomorrow at Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre just in time for their Awesome Archaeology event on 23 July:

Become an archaeologist for the day in a fun workshop! Dig into an exciting hoard of history themed activities and crafts and see some real archaeological finds from the site up close. Spaces limited so please book ahead.

03/07/2026

We were delighted to receive this beautiful barbed and tanged flint arrowhead this week 😍

Dating to the Early Bronze Age (c. 2,600 BC - 2,600 BC), this wonderful find was a chance discovery made by donor Elaine whilst digging her new build's back garden in Tyler Court, Shepshed in 1979.

It has lived in Elaine's jewellery box ever since. Thank you for this very kind donation!

12/06/2026

After many months of preparation, our county-wide exhibition, Walking Through Time: 50 Years of Leicestershire Fieldworkers is now open at museums and libraries 🥳

We hope you get out and about and enjoy the displays and associated events. The objects displayed have all been found by local people over the last 50 years, each has its own story to tell.

Curated in partnership with Leicestershire Fieldworkers 🚶‍♀️🚶🥾

For further details visit https://leicestershirecollections.org.uk/behind-the-scenes/walking-through-time-50-years-of-leicestershire-fieldworkers

07/06/2026

On the final day of Volunteers Week we want to say a huge thank you to Museum Collections volunteer, Matthew.

Matthew volunteered with us for just over a year, showing huge enthusiasm for undertaking various tasks and was always eager to learn.

He sourced archaeology objects for our new exhibition programme, 'Walking Through Time' which focuses on fieldwalked finds from the past 50 years. This was a huge job, involving assessing hundreds of boxes and bags of finds. Matthew selected finds, arranged displays, completed object movement control procedures and helped write and proof exhibition panels and labels.

Matthew has just completed his first week in a new role at . We are so pleased he has now started his career as a paid museum professional!

05/06/2026

Today's celebrates Volunteers Week with a sneak peak at our brand new exhibition 'Walking Through Time: 50 Years of Leicestershire Fieldworkers' at Harborough Museum.

In 1976 a call was put out for volunteers who would help the County Council's Archaeological Survey Team with systematic fieldwalking of Leicestershire and Rutland's fields to add to the archaeological record and mitigate against development.

Leicestershire Fieldworkers are now an independent group of volunteers who undertake amazing community archaeology projects.

The exhibition runs until October and we will be installing smaller displays around the county next week. Details coming soon!

12/05/2026

🥾 How would you feel if you found this 500,000 year old handaxe on the ground? 🥾

This is one of the incredible discoveries made during the last 50 years of groundbreaking community fieldwork spearheaded by Leicestershire Fieldworkers which will be celebrated in the upcoming Walking Through Time exhibition.

The main exhibition begins in one month's time at Harborough Museum, Market Harborough joined by smaller displays at various venues across Leicestershire.

Swipe to see the controlled chaos of our exhibition prep! 😆

Follow us for further details coming soon! 🥾🥾🥾

Address

Leicester

Telephone

+441163053720

Website

http://www.leics.gov.uk/museumcollections

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