A 61-year-old ladies hunt coat, passed down through three generations and two Warwickshire families, is still in regular use today.
Few hunt coats would make it to 61 seasons, and very few would withstand the notorious clay that sits beneath Warwickshire hunting country for that number of years. But this one, a Huntsman piece from 1961, tells a different story; a story of meticulous craftsmanship and inherent sustainability.
Inside the coat, the makers label
The coat was presented to Huntsman by a client who had inherited it from her grandmother, a close friend of a Wetherby for whom the coat was originally made. Mrs D. H. Wetherby, the initials that appear on the makers label, gave the coat as a gesture upon the sale of her house near Whatcote, on the condition that it stayed in Warwickshire.
The coat in the Huntsman fitting room
Magdalena inspecting the coat at the first fitting
Restorative work was carried out to keep the coat fit for purpose and to the contemporary specifications of the client. As the coat is designed to be worn in the saddle, respecting its unique silhouette, including the short, flared skirt and high armholes, was crucial.
The coat with its second owner, grandmother of the client
Older photos of the coat were a useful reference point when reviving it to its former glory. With two fittings to ensure perfection, the coat was again ready to ride in and certain to last another 60 years.
The coat, pictured in full hunting attire