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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]