A GROUP of volunteers hope to bring “history to life” by recreating a piece of ancient clothing.

The Pin Pushers who work at National Trust property Erddig near Wrexham have decided to remake a dress worn by Victoria Yorke who lived at the property during the 1800s.

Members will be making the dress using traditional hand sewing skills and are looking for donations of equipment such as sewing machines, materials and fabric to complete the project.

The project to create a replica of the dress to go on display was the idea of volunteer and group leader Linda Richards. Another dress will also be made for the volunteers to wear at events.

Linda said: “To see the dress worn by someone who can walk the gardens of Erddig will really bring history to life.

“I want people to see what women went through in the clothes that they wore to be fashionable.”

A photograph that hangs in the house shows Victoria, the wife of Simon Yorke III, and was taken around 1869.

Linda said: “This picture shows how Victoria was a very fashionable lady and it inspired me to get the Pin Pushers to show an era of elegance that now seems long forgotten.”

The work will take some months to complete but the aim is to give visitors the chance to understand how the dress was made and base it on a real character of the household.

Victoria’s father was Sir Edward Cust who was the Master of Ceremonies to the Royal household of Queen Victoria.

If you can help towards this historical project or donate anything call Erddig on 01978 315172.