A baby girl has been christened in an Edwardian hand-stitched gown worn by four generations of her family before her.
Five-month-old Evie-Mae Lowe, of Dill Hall Lane, Church, follows in the footsteps of her father Ryan, grandfather Graham, great-grandma Margaret and great-great-grandma Madge to wear the gown over the past century.
During this time the gown has been worn at churches from nearby Clayton-le-Moors and Rishton to as far away as Lancaster, Morecambe and even Australia.
The dress, hand made approximately 103 years ago, is made of fine cotton with a pink tuck top and a white tier skirt embroidered with cotton lace.
Evie-Mae, whose mum is Charlotte Newson, was christened at St Mary’s RC Church in Clayton-le-Moors last weekend by Father Peter Tierney surrounded by her family.
Her grandmother Gillian Lowe, of Clayton Way, Clayton-le-Moors, said it was a ‘special day’. She said: “She is the fifth generation in her family line to wear it but there have been 17 in total if you take into account other cousins and great-uncles and people like that down the years who have worn it.
“It’s a very nice, unique and a special thing to have in our family. I would like my other son to use it when he has a child one day.”
Nursery nurse Gillian, 49, said the family wants to keep the tradition going as long as possible. She said: “It’s kept safe by Evie’s great-grandma Margaret who washes it in a special liquid and keeps it safe in a special box. There are no stains or holes. It has kept.”
