Wakefield Museums and Castles

Elizabethan Lady in Waiting costume, 1933

Collected in 2004

This dress was worn by Mrs Mabel Crook (1892 – 1936). She played the part of a Lady in Waiting to Queen Elizabeth I at the spectacular Wakefield Pageant in 1933.

Mrs Crook took part in the Elizabethan section of the Pageant. People from Alverthorpe played the characters in this era.

All the Ladies in Waiting costumes were made by Kingswells Ltd. This was a department store and drapery on Northgate, Wakefield.

In her scene, Queen Elizabeth granted a charter to Wakefield for a free grammar school.

The scenes took place in front of a replica of Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School. It was built especially for the performances.

Some of the performers from the Elizabethan era pose for a photo. Mabel Crook is seated bottom left. Photograph courtesy of the Wakefield Express.