Citylife in Lichfield July 2023

Downton Glamour
By Lesley Smith,
Curator of Tutbury Castle
There is a lady I know whose name fills me with envy
– Notty Hornblower. Just imagine the glory of such
an unforgettable name, particularly as mine is Smith!
Now, there is nothing wrong with Smith, a fine old English
name, but I would much prefer Hornblower, or indeed my
grandmother’s name – De Vere. How grand that would be,
but I am still Smith.
Notty Hornblower is a well-known figure in many circles, and
it seems everyone I speak to in Lichfield, across Staffordshire
and beyond, has heard of her. Notty is a fashion expert and
costume collector with a formidable reputation for high
standards. She manages to mix this expertise with a warm and
enthusiastic nature which means she is great fun to be with and
hear speak. Notty Hornblower has a museum you can see in
the Peak National Park, with wonderful displays going back to
some original 18th century pieces. Real costumes worn by real people at the time of
Lichfield’s own Dr Johnson. It takes great skill to care for and curate such a collection.
Experts who support her are at the top of their respective professional trees,
including a lady from the Royal School of Needlework.
We met recently at the castle and talked together about the enduring affection and
attraction of the TV series Downton Abbey. Many people were dismayed when it
finished. I heard a whisper recently that it may be returning to our screens, which I
think would be wonderful if true, and I know I am not alone in that view, either here
in the UK or in many other countries. The Americans love it, of course, as we would
expect.
I remember speaking to a senior manager from the National Trust many years ago,
and he told me there was some trepidation as to whether they should open up the
kitchens and servants’ quarters for the public to see. As we know, they turned out to
be the part of these properties that were amongst the most visited. The reasons are
straightforward, as it turned out that people love to see the vast array of copper pans,
black ranges, spits for roasting and laundry rooms. Another reason is that, for most
people, the servants’ quarters were where their ancestors lived and worked, and that
link with the past can be moving. You often hear people say “my gran used to work in
a place like this.” As the years go by there will be fewer of these comments, but there
will be programmes like Downton to keep these thoughts alive both upstairs and
below stairs.
Notty Hornblower (who, by the way, looked just like Honor Blackman at one time)
and I are going to put on a show of her 1920s collection at the Castle this month. She
is picking out the most gorgeous pieces and bringing a team of models with her. I can’t
wait to see the models looking marvellous under the chandeliers in our marquee. The
real things are so much better than fancy dress. They will make the audience gasp if
the photos are anything to go by.
I have a particular affection for the period as my late mother-in-law was at the
School of Art as a fashion designer in the 1920s and we have a number of her designs,
many of which are in full colour and are now real family treasures. Her name was
Phyllis Meakin and she went on to become a ‘Fever Sister’ in the local hospital, but her
love of creativity lived on in her short life. Sadly, she died before I was born, but I feel
I know something of her through her designs. It is because of Phyllis that I wanted
Notty’s 1920s fashion collection at the Castle, as well as the sheer glamour it would
offer.
So, here in England much of our confidence is almost entirely back, and lockdown is
like a bad dream. It is time to appreciate the opportunities we have to enjoy life to the
full. All these positive thoughts ring true with all of us, I know, but I also know I am still
a Smith!
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