The Gibbs Family

The Gibbs family fortunes originated in the establishment of a trading company by Antony Gibbs (1756–1816) in 1809. Antony was the son of an Exeter surgeon, and the family roots can be traced to the village of Clyst St George, just south east of the city. Under the management of Antony’s son, William Gibbs (1790-1875), the business grew and flourished on the trade of guano, found many feet deep on rainless islets along the Peruvian coast. When the first shipment was made to England in 1842, it was an enormous gamble, but it proved to be an instant success and became Britain’s best-selling fertiliser, the profits from which supported the building and furnishing of Tyntesfield.

In 1906, Eustace’s father, George, was elected Member of Parliament for Bristol West, a seat he would hold until 1928. He served as Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Colonial Secretary Walter Long, 1st Viscount Long (his father-in-law from his first marriage), and as a government whip from 1917 to 1921 in the coalition ministry of David Lloyd George. In 1924, he was appointed Treasurer of the Queen’s Household, a post he held until 1928. George became a member of the Privy Council in 1923, and in recognition of his illustrious career in politics and his public service he was raised to the peerage in 1928 as Baron Wraxall, of Clyst St George, in the County of Devon.

The Hon. Ursula Mary Lawley

The Hon. Ursula Mary Lawley was the daughter of Arthur Lawley, 6th Baron Wenlock, GCSI, GCIE, KCMG (1860-1932) and great granddaughter of the shipping magnate, Sir Samuel Cunard. She married the 1st Baron Wraxall, following the death of his first wife. The wedding, which took place on 20 July 1927 at St Margaret's Church in Westminster, was attended by King George V and Queen Mary. The Hon. Ursula Lawley had previously been Maid of Honour to Queen Mary, between 1912 and 1927.

The Wedding Dress

The wedding dress was made by London-based fashion designer and court dressmaker Elizabeth Handley-Seymour (1867–1948), who was known at the time as Madame Handley-Seymour. Utilising the latest trends, the dress was crafted from gold lamé damask, a fabric and colour symbolising wealth, happiness, and wisdom. Drawing on medieval influences, which were very much in vogue at the time, the gown featured a straight cut, a dropped waistline, a box-cut square neckline, and long sleeves. Ursula even chose for it to be floor-length, defying the contemporary trend for shorter wedding dresses. The ensemble was completed with a lace overlay train, a tulle veil and heeled brocaded shoes with ankle straps.

The Conservation Process

Before being exhibited, the wedding outfit underwent meticulous conservation at Historic Royal Palaces, under the guidance of textile conservator Anne-Marie Britton. Though largely well-preserved, it showed signs of age: tarnished metal threads, perspiration stains, and a misshaped tiara made of wax orange blossoms.

To remove harmful degradation products and reduce the appearance of perspiration stains, the team used an agar gel infused with chelating agents to draw out green corrosion and rust stains from the delicate fabric. Each piece of gel was shaped to fit specific stained areas, enabling precise and gentle cleaning.

To reshape the tiara, conservators examined historical photographs of Ursula on her wedding day, using them as a reference to guide the restoration. The metal wire was carefully bent back into its original shape. The wax flowers were cleaned using saliva, an effective natural cleaning agent for wax due to its lipase enzyme content. This was applied with a fine brush or cotton swab, then rinsed with deionised water.

Finally, to reinforce the cracked wax petals, a small amount of adhesive was applied precisely to the damaged areas, holding the petals in place until dry. This treatment stabilised the fragile elements, making them less prone to damage during handling.

A bespoke mount, made from conservation-grade materials, was created to display the wedding outfit at Kensington Palace for the 2025 exhibition Dress Codes.

'Dress Codes': The New Royal Fashion Exhibition

Now on display at Dress Codes at Kensington Palace, Ursula’s wedding dress joins a rich array of garments from the Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection - a Designated Outstanding Collection of national and international importance, cared for by Historic Royal Palaces. Spanning five centuries, the collection includes pieces worn by Queen Victoria, Princess Margaret, Diana, Princess of Wales, and Queen Elizabeth II, alongside garments worn by courtiers, debutantes, and palace staff.

Dress Codes invites visitors to explore the evolution of fashion, life at court, British ceremonial customs, and the stories of notable historical figures and those around them.

Matthew Storey, curator at Historic Royal Palaces, said, “It has been a pleasure to delve deep into the stores of the Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection, to share unknown stars alongside iconic outfits. Working with the Young Producers has shown how fascinating the histories of these garments are, from the personal to the political, and how their design can inspire creativity today. Kensington Palace has always been the home of royal fashion, from court occasions in the Georgian period, to its stylish former residents, to our exhibitions today. I’m looking forward to sharing an incredible range of stunning items with our visitors, including many that have never been seen before, and celebrating the creativity of the remarkable Young Producers.”

Exhibition Details

Kensington Palace, Kensington Gardens, London W8 4PX

Opening Hours: Monday - Sunday (10am-6pm)

Ticket Prices:
Members: Free
Adults: £24.70
Child (under 16 years old): £12.40

A Kensington Palace admission ticket includes access to all public areas of the palace and gardens including:

• Dress Codes exhibition
• Victoria: A Royal Childhood
• The King's State Apartments
• The Queen's State Apartments

Historic Royal Palaces members only need to pre-book for select palace events and member events. Pre-booking is not required for Dress Codes. 

For more information
hrp.org.uk