Welcome to the Hope House Costume Museum website.

Hope House Costume Museum and Restoration Workshop is the realisation of a dream that Notty Hornblower has nurtured for more than twenty years. She began seriously collecting period costumes when in her thirties and has now amassed a huge collection that includes outfits and accessories dating from 1790 up to the 1970’s, including menswear, ladieswear, children and baby outfits, christening robes, military uniforms and exquisite wedding dresses.

Notty has been presenting fashion shows for the Women’s Institute, schools and various ladies groups, and over the last fifteen years has raised thousands of pounds for charities by staging her shows entitled “100 Years of Fashion” . However, it was the acquisition of an adjacent barn in 1994 that enabled Notty to turn professional and expand her hobby into a small business.

Recently featured on the BBC’s Antiques Roadshow, Notty has also appeared on Carlton TV’s “Heart of the Country” and Channel 4’s “Collector’s Lot”, as well as featuring in a variety of magazines including the BBC’s Homes and Antiques magazine and Country Living.