The dress was designed by Sir Hamo Thornycroft for his wife, Agatha Cox, who he married in 1884. The following letters, from the Archives at the Centre for the Study of Sculpture, Leeds, are from Agatha to her future husband and most likely pertain to this dress: Letter 630/61 Marl Field House, Tonbridge [letterhead] Jan 1st 1884 Dearest. The box from Liberty caused me a great deal of surprise and delight at your kindness in sending me such a lovely present. The stuff is beautiful and it has often been my ambition to have a dress of it but I cannot help reproaching you at the same time for indulging me to such an extent. I am just delighted with the gift itself, but, as you say, coming from you its value is greatly enhanced and I only wish that I might thank you for it properly. The question that arises is, how can I get it made into a wearable form? I am afraid the genius of the Tonbridge dressmakers is not sufficiently great to induce me to let them try their hands on it. But I cannot yet make up my mind on such a weighty and important subject. You see women are all alike; just as vain as one another! I have been considering already the design of the dress but I think you must help me with that. It requires great consideration - /63 Marlfield House Jan. 8 84 I am going to get my dress made by a dress maker here, the only one think who can carry out instructions at all near the mark. I shall keep her well under my eye which will be possible if she comes here to work. I think conclusions we came to very satisfactory with regard to the dress the other night. I have a good idea of what it should be like. It was sweet of you to make so much trouble about it. /68 21 Jan How sweet and thoughtful of you to send the lace and mittens, thoughtful because it was just what I wanted and was thinking of investing in the letter. The lace is lovely and will suit the Liberty gown.