The Tangled History of the Smock Frock with Alison Toplis

A work shirt with a surprisingly tangled past

Smock frocks can look like quaint emblems of rural England, but Alison Toplis starts with their working lives. The textile historian follows the practical nineteenth-century garment worn by labouring men and the women whose skills made and decorated it.

Her research also traces the smock's move from everyday workwear into rural nostalgia, then into women's and children's clothing and modern fashion. Toplis is the author of The Hidden History of the Smock Frock, and the evening includes historic smocks from the Corinium Museum collection.

New Brewery Arts advises using GL7 1HW for satnav, although its postal address is GL7 1JH. Sheep Street Car Park is about five minutes away, and the building has a lift, ramps, a ground-floor accessible toilet and disabled parking.

Ticketed. A glass of fizz is included. The event is sold out, but the waiting list is open and the festival may add a second event if enough people register.

Tuesday 27 October 2026 · New Brewery Arts, Brewery Court, Cricklade Street, Cirencester, Gloucestershire GL7 1JH · Doors 6.15pm, 6.30pm to 8pm