A NEW exhibition has opened at York's Quilt Museum and Gallery, featuring period quilts and costumes from historical TV dramas such as Pride and Prejudice, Jane Eyre and The Portrait of a Lady.

Setting the Scene, which runs until August 30, also includes a quilted petticoat worn by the Duchess of Devonshire in the film The Duchess, featuring Keira Knightley, and a purple dress worn by Maggie Smith in her role as the Dowager Countess of Grantham in Downton Abbey.

Visitors to the museum in Peasholme Green are also able to see specially-selected items from the museum’s heritage collection to complement these costumes.

“This theme has allowed us to bring together a unique display of items from our heritage collection showing a rich variety of cotton prints, silks and linen in a myriad of quilting designs, appliqué and hand embroidery," said museum manager, Fiona Diaper.

"By spanning such an expansive time period we can show how quilting and costume design evolved to reflect changing fashions and technological developments in printing and dyeing."

Two more exhibitions have also opened at the museum. 'Dressed to Quilt' features quilted dresses by textile artist Ineke Berlyn, who is staging her first solo show.

"Her collection of “dress fronts” challenges perceptions of quilting in its traditional sense as well as our expectations of the classic dress silhouette," said Fiona.

There is also a small exhibition of quilts inspired by the Tour De France's Grand Depart from York this summer, made by museum and gallery volunteers.