Trinity House jacket
Henry Poole and Co.
Category
Costume
Date
1913
Materials
Wool, metal and silk
Place of origin
England
Order this imageCollection
Chartwell, Kent
NT 1102813
Caption
Sir Winston Churchill (1874–1965) was particularly fond of expressing his political stature through his clothing, be it a uniform showing military prowess or a siren suit during the air raids of the Second World War. This Trinity House Venetian jacket was made for Churchill in 1913. He was appointed First Lord of the Admiralty by Liberal Prime Minister Herbert Asquith (1852–1928) in 1911, a prestigious position that placed Churchill at the head of the Royal British Navy. In 1913 he became an Elder Brother of Trinity House, a fraternity that had provided relief, support and advocacy for mariners since the 16th century. Throughout his political ascent, Churchill entrusted the elite Savile Row tailors Henry Poole & Co. to craft not only his Trinity House uniforms but also his formal attire for his preceding and succeeding positions, including Home Secretary and Secretary of State for War. Archives show Churchill’s last commission from Poole’s was a 1937 repair to his Trinity House uniform, which he continued to wear in his role as prime minister during the Second World War. Helen Antrobus
Summary
Trinity House suit comprising of a double-breasted Venetian jacket, with a captain's rank by Poole and Co, the label "Winston Churchill Rt. Hon. 1913" with (b) Trinity House undress trousers. 1969 schedule p. 123
Marks and inscriptions
"Winston Churchill Rt. Hon. 1913"
Makers and roles
Henry Poole and Co. , manufacturer
References
Antrobus and Slocombe 2025: Helen Antrobus and Emma Slocombe, 100 Things to Wear: Fashion from the collections of the National Trust, National Trust 2025, p. 164.