The New Zealand Fencibles were retired soldiers brough to New Zealand, mainly from Ireland, as a security force in the late 1840's. Here I am dressed as a soldiers wife ready to head of to the Howick Historic Village where Katherine and I volunteer on the Live Days they hold. I have on stockings, 2 petticoats, chemise, corset, dress, apron and bonnet. I also wear a ladies fob watch on a chain which was a luxury ladies item of the time.
Katherine is dressed as a soldiers daughter. She is wearing stockings, pantelets, a petticoat, chemise, dress, apron and cottage bonnet.
Katherines Cottage Bonnet. It took me a little while to make both our bonnets as both are hand sewn and I had no construction instructions. They were made up as I went along but turned out okay!
On one of our live days the theme was Queen Victoria's birthday so we got to dress up in our crinolines and become the Queens ladies-in-waiting. Here I am with another lady-in-waiting and some of the fencible soldiers.
