Fauntleroy Suit
Boy’s Fauntleroy Suit, Eldridge & Young, 1887. Museum no. T.518-1974 (click image for larger version)
This suit was worn by six-year old Walter Hamilton Moberly during the celebrations of the 50th anniversary of Queen Victoria's reign. In June 1887, Walter travelled to London especially to watch the Queen drive through the streets to Westminster Abbey. He wore this new suit of mauve plush, with a matching hat and a lace collar.
At the time the Fauntleroy style was the latest fashion for little boys. The suit was based on the clothes worn by the young hero of Frances Hodgson Burnett's best-selling novel 'Little Lord Fauntleroy'. This rags to riches story was first published as a magazine serial in 1885. It tells of an American boy who goes from his home in the slums of New York to a stately home in England. He turns out to be the heir of a great fortune.
Young boys of the time wore dresses so Walter would have felt very grown-up in this suit, which includes knee breeches. The suit came from the gentlemen's outfitters Eldridge & Young which was near his grandparents' home in Salisbury.
