Have just looked up 'barrow' in the OED, which describes it as a 'long
sleeveless flannel garment for infants', derived from the Old English
'bcorgan' - to protect or cover. Just what you'd need to keep your toes
warm in a draughty house before tights and babygros were invented...
Yours,
Deborah Jarman.
>Hi Claire,
>
>
>This would be a ?barrow coat? ? a very simple baby garment. You can see
>a picture at
>http://staff.lib.muohio.edu/~shocker/FemInv/patgifs/471478/01.jpg . There
>are several examples catalogued in the online Artefacts Canada collection
>http://daryl.chin.gc.ca/Artefacts/e_MasterLayout.cgi - just type in ?Barrow
>coat.? Any good book on children?s and baby?s costume in the
>Victorian/Edwardian period should have some more info on them.
>
>
>
>Good luck with your research.
>
>Cheers,
>
>Chris
>
>
>
>M. Christine Castle, Ph.D.
>Consultant and Educator
>234 Hillcrest Avenue
>Hamilton, Ontario, Canada L8P2X6
>
>Dear All
>
>
>I am hoping someone will be able to help me... I am trying to ascertain
>what a 'long flannel barrow' would be in a late 19th century confinement
>box i.e. a box full of clothes for a new born baby. My imagination has
>conjured up a number of strange images, but none of them seem quite
>appropriate!
>
>
>
>I would be very grateful if anyone can help
>
>
>
>Many thanks in advance
>
>
>
>Claire
>
>
>
>Claire Adler
>Museum Learning Consultant
>72c Manor Road
>London
>N16 5BN
>
>
>
>TEL: 020 7502 7019
>Email: [log in to unmask]
--
Deborah Jarman
The Inspiration Exchange
18 Westwood Park
Forest Hill
London SE23 3QB
Tel: 020 8699 5306
Mobile: 07973 856852
email: [log in to unmask]
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