A century-old christening gown is still in pristine condition despite being passed down through five generations – and used by more than 70 babies.
Audrey Salter, 79, has safely stored the hand-made white cotton robe for more than 50 years and loaned it out to countless members of her family.
It was sewn by her grandmother at the turn of the 20th century and is still completely in tact and has not required any alterations or repairs.
Audrey wore the gown for her christening in 1935 and it has been used by her four children, eight grandchild and 10 great grandchildren.
Before that her mother, Christine Tavener, who is one of 15 children, wore it to her christening in 1915.
The dress has even survived a round-the-world trip with Audrey and husband Terry, who served as an Army mechanical engineer, and was used in Singapore and Germany for two of her children.
Audrey, from Yeovil, Somerset, said: “It was my mother’s before me, she had 14 brothers and sisters and they were all christened in it.
“It has been passed around all over the place.
“As well as my own children and their children all my nieces and nephews have used it too.”
The gown was last used by Ashley, Audrey’s grandson in 1998, and the grandma believes it has lasted so long because she has been in sole charge of it.
“I think it has survived so long because I have really looked after it,” she added.
“I haven’t let people take it home really, I have put the baby in the gown for the Christening, then taken them out again.
“I have really looked after it.
“It’s a beautiful gown, when you hold the baby in your arms the skirt drops right down to your ankles, and as a family we feel incredible fortunate to have been able to pass the gown down through so many people.”
The gown is thought to have first been used at the turn of the 20th by Audrey’s Uncle Doug, the eldest of the 15 children.
It was then passed down through each of the grandchildren, before Audrey came to look after it, using it for her children Rachael in 1954, Julia in 1956, Robert in 1958 and Anne in 1962.
