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Costumes from TV drama go on display in castle

Rachel Candlin
BBC News, West of England
Berkeley Castle Six elaborate Tudor costumes are displayed on mannequins in a large hall. There is an intricate mural on the back wall showing Henry VIII and three other characters.Berkeley Castle
Six costumes are on display in Berkeley Castle, where filming for the series took place

Six costumes worn by the stars of the BBC TV drama Wolf Hall have gone on display at one of the locations used for filming.

Scenes for both the first and second series of Hilary Mantel's Tudor trilogy were shot at Berkeley Castle.

The exhibition includes outfits worn by actors Mark Rylance, as Thomas Cromwell, and Damien Lewis, as King Henry VIII.

"The costume department did such a fantastic job," said visitor business manager Jenny Low. "Parts of the outfits we've got were in the production, and other bits have been added to make it look and present itself as more authentic to the era."

"For the gents - the King and Thomas Cromwell - we have their surcoats, which are the great big patterned coats they wore over their outfits. They're incredibly spectacular, with fur lining and things like that," she added.

Jenny Low A mannequin wearing the Thomas Cromwell costume of a long black velvet-trimmed loose coat and beret-style hat.Jenny Low

Thomas Cromwell's black surcoat was worn by the actor Mark Rylance throughout the trilogy.

Jenny Low Two mannequins, one wearing a vivid blue dress and the other a lime green surcoat with black velvet lining and a black hat with a plume.Jenny Low

Damian Lewis wore a lime green surcoat as Henry VIII, and Summer Richards, as Catherine Howard, the monarch's fifth wife, wore a vivid blue dress in the TV series.

Jenny Low Two mannequins, one wearing a bright red and gold dress with large black fur-trimmed cuffs, and the other in a white surcoat with a black hat and feather trimJenny Low

Lilet Lesser wore a striking red dress as Lady Mary, the future Queen Mary.

Jenny Low Damian Lewis as King Henry VIII putting a ring on the finger of Kate Phillips as Jane Seymour in a wedding ceremony in a scene of Wolf HallJenny Low

Ms Low said: "The costume department have added jewellery and other accessories to create the entire outfits, so it's very historically accurate to the period."

Jenny Low Two mannequins, one wearing a nightdress and a long green dress coat with a brown fur trim, the other in Thomas Cromwell's black surcoat and hat Jenny Low

Ms Low said the female costumes, including Jane Seymour's nightdress, which was worn by actress Kate Phillips, were "absolutely magnificent to look at".

"The same goes for the queens' dresses, which are accessorised so beautifully, they have such intricate detailing and use fabrics that are authentic to the era," she added.

Jenny Low A mural featuring Henry VIII and three other courtiers standing in regal costume around a plinthJenny Low

A large floor-to-ceiling mural, painted specifically for the BBC production, inspired by a similar one created for Henry VIII at the Palace of Whitehall, provides a stunning backdrop.

The exhibition - Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light - runs from 30 March to 30 April every Sunday to Wednesday.

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