What's on in Gloucestershire

The House of the Tailor of Gloucester

Daily

Hours: Mon-Sat 10am-4pm; Sun 12pm-4pm

Beside Gloucester Cathedral is the house that, over 100 years ago, inspired Beatrix Potter's story The Tailor of Gloucester. Inside the house visitors can see the tailor, his cat Simpkin and the collection of nimble-fingered mice.

Published in 1903, Potter's The Tailor of Gloucester tells the story of the poor tailor who has only a few days to finish the waistcoat and jacket for the Mayor's wedding on Christmas Day. As he wearily gets home to his cat Simpkin, he starts to feel ill and goes to bed, but not before upturning all the cups under which Simpkin has been storing the mice he has caught.

For three days he is feverish, but the mice offer their thanks for their release by going over to the tailor's shop and finishing the waistcoat and jacket in the finest embroidery that you could imagine. From then on the tailor's future is secure, as the Mayor likes his wedding clothes, and everybody wants clothes from him! Even Simpkin converts from his mice-catching former days!

All the characters come to life in fully-rounded 3D dimensions in the House of the Tailor of Gloucester, joining Beatrix Potter's other characters such as Peter Rabbit, Jemima Puddleduck and Mrs Tiggywinkle as favourites in the public's collective consciousness.

In addition to the exhibits, there is also a gift shop.

The House of the Tailor of Gloucester