Missing 150-year-old wedding dress found after Facebook appeal

Updated

A set designer who lost a 150-year-old wedding dress made by her great-grandmother is to be reunited with the antique treasure.

Tess Newall thought the dress had been lost after Edinburgh dry cleaners Kleen Cleaners went into administration.

Ms Newall believed the dress was taken to be sold by administrators Wylie & Bisset.

It prompted an appeal on Facebook and national TV for help in finding the dress, which she wore at her own wedding in June 2016.

She said: "I have just found out that the dry cleaners have lost my much loved wedding dress.

"It was made by my Great Great Granny in 1870 (I altered the top) and I wore it in June 2016.

"It seems that the dress was taken to be sold so it could be winging its way anywhere. Please share this far and wide in case anyone stumbles across it."

In an attempt to find the dress, which was made by her great-grandmother Dora, she appeared on Sky News and her story went viral.

It prompted the administrators to contact her saying it had been found by the shop landlord in a crumpled heap on the floor.

Ms Newall wrote: "We received this letter this morning from the administrators, Wylie & Bisset, confirming that our dress was not in Kleen Cleaners.

"However, we also received a phone call from the very kind landlord of the shop property who had read about it.

"He checked what was really left by Wylie & Bisset and found an antique lace dress in a crumpled heap on the floor.

"My Mum & Dad have just been let into the shop and to their amazement and joy it is our dress! (not cleaned but still with our ticket)"

The administrators are expected to reunite Ms Newall with her dress on Monday.

Advertisement