Victorian museum re-enactors switch to modern dress in heat

A living history museum has given its staff rare permission to wear their own clothes this week because of the heat.

Normally the workers at Blists Hill Victorian Town in Shropshire wear clothing from the 19th century, to play the roles of the people of the time.

But with temperatures above 30C (86F) this week, the National Trust said it was better for them to be comfortable.

Shirley Chisholm, who normally dresses as a Victorian chemist shop assistant, said it felt “really odd” to be out of costume but added: “We’re really grateful for that.”

She explained it would have been “very shameful for a woman to be dressed like this in Victorian times”.

Normally, she would wear several layers of clothing, including a large dress, and that was typical of the time.

“It would have caused a bit of a social stir if a respectable woman had gone out in the street without even her hat on,” she said.

She also said she felt the visitors understood the decision.