Image © @BernadetteBanner
Athelhampton House, Dorchester, Dorset
The Greensleeves Project is an interdisciplinary collaboration headed by Tamsin Lewis FSA. Tamsin was given a grant by the Society of Antiquaries to reconstruct the clothes described in the famous Elizabethan ballad. The earliest surviving text of Greensleeves dates from 1584 and contains eighteen verses, written in a somewhat obsessive fashion, by a man who showers his would-be beloved with gifts, including many clothes. Put together, these gifts provide us with a rich resource of information on clothing, fabrics, embroidery, and other aspects of material culture. The reconstructed items of dress were made by a team of team of established historians and practitioners each taking responsibility for one or two items.
The conference will be held at Athelhampton House, a beautiful 16th century manor house in Dorset which was also the location for filming of the project. Papers will be presented by Tamsin and many of the makers and the reconstructed garments will be displayed in an exhibition. Refreshments and lunch will be included.
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Tickets
Schedule
Travel and Accommodation
Image © @BernadetteBanner
Tickets
£55 Member
£60 Non-Member
£20 Member Video Access
£25 Non-Member Video Access
Complete this form to attend the event in person at Athelhampton House. Be sure to follow the instructions for submitting payment after completing the form; your place cannot be held for you until payment is received. Early Bird member rates are £50. After 1 October, member rates rise to £55. Non-member rates are £60 per person. Due to the size of the room available, places are limited. Registration closes 1 November.
Access to the YouTube video, which will be uploaded after the event, can be purchased here. The cost is £20 for MEDATS members and £25 for non-members. An access code for the discounted price was emailed to members on 4 September. The video should be available and shared with ticketholders by 6 December, 2025.
A full refund will be given if a cancellation is made 30 days or more before the event. Refunds for cancellations made at shorter notice will be given on a discretionary basis dependent on whether the ticket can be resold or not. The final decision will be made by the treasurer.
Schedule
Registration
10:00-10:30
Tea and coffee will be available
Session One
Tamsin Lewis Introducing Greensleeves
Juliet Braidwood with gold embrodered gorgeously – Making Greensleeves’ smock
Sally Pointer stockings all of silk, with golde all wrought aboue the knee (remote presentation)
Mally Ley Garters fringed with the gold
Lunch
Buffet lunch
View the exhibition
Session Two
Eva Burnett Pumps as white as was the milk – Shoes for Greensleeves
Constance McKenzie Petticoats of the best – Making the petticoat with stiffened upper-bodies
Noel Gieleghem A spangled ruff for Greensleeves (remote presentation)
Session Three
Sarah Thursfield Kerchers of the best – Wrought work and headgear
Ninya Mikhaila A gown of grossie green – Making Greensleeves’ gown
Eloise Pennycott Greensleeves was my delight – Embodying Greensleeves
Closing remarks 16:30
Image © @BernadetteBanner
Travel and Accommodation
For assistance arranging transportation or ride sharing to or from a rail station contact Pat Poppy, newsletter@medats.org.uk.
Personal Vehicle
Athelhampton House is brown signed from the A35 (Tolpuddle bypass)
From London: M3, M27 west, A31, then A35 from the roundabout at Bere Regis
From north east: M1, M25 then directions from London
From north west: M5 either come off at Gloucester to Cirencester and then the A350 to Blandford and the A354 to Puddletown, or: continue down the M5 to Taunton and come in via the A358 to Yeovil then the A37 to Dorchester
Public Transit
The nearest rail station is Moreton, which is about five miles away and is on the main Waterloo to Weymouth line.
Next nearest is Dorchester (South), about 6 miles away, also on the Waterloo to Weymouth line. Dorchester (West) is a different station and is on the line that runs from Gloucester via Bristol and Bath to Weymouth.
Most bus routes will require a walk from Puddletown (approximately one mile).
Places to Stay
Hotels in Dorchester are the best bet.
There is a Premier Inn in Brewery Square. This used to be the site of the brewery but is now a regenerated area full of restaurants. There is also an Anytime Fitness in Brewery Square.
The other hotels are mainly on the High Street
There are also a lot of B&Bs.