Bourne hosts Worth 200 to celebrate bicentenary of Charles Frederick Worth - the Father of Haute Couture
A year of planning and preparation came to fruition last weekend as a town celebrated the fabulous legacy of a globally famous son.
Events were held in venues across Bourne on Saturday and Sunday for Worth 200 to mark the bicentenary of Charles Frederick Worth.
He was born in what is now Wake House, in North Street, on October 13, 1825 and made his name in Paris where he dominated the fashion scene.
Aveland History Group co-ordinated events at the Red Hall and Bourne Abbey Church Hall.
“Our aim was to ensure that his true worth as the Father of Haute Couture was recognised in his hometown, as much as he is in Paris,” said group member Alison Carr.
“We were delighted to have helped over 500 locals and those from afar, celebrate this son of Bourne.”
The group also ran craft workshops during the year and created legacy artworks, supported by Bourne Town Council including mosaics and silhouettes of his gowns.
A Worth designed walking dress in wickerwork, created by local artist Nicola McLean was also unveiled at the Red Hall on Saturday.
There, free activities and events included fashion shows, crafts, theatrical performances, dancing and a railway exhibition.
Bourne U3A put on a photographic display, and Bourne Old Town Hall held a poetry slam with Ross Ayres, Stamford Poet Laureate, featuring poems written especially for the bicentenary.
Stamford College fashion students hosted a show at the Darby and Joan Hall, and a series of free lectures, sponsored by the Len Pick Trust, again proved popular at the church hall.
Among guest speakers at Wake House, was Charles Worth’s great, great granddaughter, Olivia, and members of the Quincy family, descended from Charles’ mother.
Additional tours of the building had to be put on to meet demand.
“The weekend was a fantastic success and beyond our expectations, with over 800 people visiting Wake House,” said Martin Siddle, chairman of the Bourne Arts and Community Trust which runs Wake House.
“It was a great coming together of community groups.”
Martin thanked Bourne United Charities, Bourne History Group, Civic Society and the Butterfield Centre as well as all volunteers and the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Bourne History Group joined in the celebrations at Wake House where re-enactment group Up an’ at ‘em History performed ‘Bourne Through the Ages’.
“It’s been a fantastic weekend for our town and community, coming together to celebrate the 200th anniversary of a world-renowned fashion legend,” said BHG chairman Steve Guillari.
“I’m immensely proud of the Bourne History Group for promoting our town’s rich 19th-Century heritage and bringing the streets of Bourne to life.
“We’ve loved hearing visitors share their wonderful stories about their families and memories of the place we all call home.”