Ellen Terry's Beetlewing dress

This is the dress worn by the Victorian actress, Dame Ellen Terry, when she opened as Lady Macbeth at the Lyceum Theatre in the Strand in London in December 1888. The dress was designed to invoke fear and the addition of luminous green beetle cases must have added to its dramatic effect in contrast with Terry's long dark red hair. It is on display along with many other items of theatrical memorabilia at Ellen Terry's former home, Smallhythe Place, near Tenterden in Kent. The property, which dates from the early 16th century, was gifted to the National Trust by Terry's daughter, Edy, in 1939. We met up with an old friend there so lots of catch-up chat as well as a very interesting place to visit.