MAY queens’ dresses dating back 122 years are to go on display in Knutsford.

The centrepiece of the exhibition will be a gown worn by Mary Howarth in 1887, when the Prince and Princess of Wales visited Knutsford’s Royal May Day.

Val Bryant, who is organising the exhibition, said she recently discovered the dress at the Salt Museum in Northwich.

“I was delighted because it’s so well preserved. It’s beautiful and unique,” she said.

Last year Mrs Bryant, a trustee at Knutsford Heritage Centre, began searching for the dress, which had previously been stored at the Old Library in Brook Street.

But nine years ago the library moved to its new building in Toft Road and the dress was sent to the Salt Museum.

Mrs Bryant and other local historians did not realise where it had gone.

However, last year she began calling experts and museums to try to locate the dress.

“I didn’t know which May queen’s dress it was then,” she said.

A contact told her the dress was at the Salt Museum, so she visited and discovered the gown was from 1887 – the year the annual festival was given the royal part of its title.

Mrs Bryant said the dress was therefore an important part of Knutsford’s history.

She said: “Not very many people knew where it was, but it’s very much part of the history of the Royal May Day.”

The dress is made from plush velvet and is trimmed with embroidered lace and satin ribbons.

There is also Mary Howarth’s crown, which is lined with blue velvet and trimmed with ermine.

The discovery of the items sparked the idea for the exhibition at Knutsford Heritage Centre, off King Street.

Mrs Bryant began contacting former May queens to ask for their dresses and has now collected gowns from almost every decade over the past 122 years.

Mrs Bryant also secured a grant of £9,165 from the North West Awards 4 All scheme, which is part of the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The money will be used to create a cabinet for the 1887 dress and other displays.

The exhibition will run from May 2 until July 25 and will coincide with the Three Shires Textile Festival.

Mrs Bryant also wants to take photographs of other former May queens’ dresses for the event.

To help, call 01565 650506.