Shirley Leaf & Petal Co

The historic Working Leaf and Flower Museum located in Hastings allows visitors to step back in time and marvel at the thousands of original company tools of the trade, machines and fabrics, which are, still use today.

Approximately 10,000 cutting tools and flower irons can be seen reproduced from moulds made from casts of leaves from all round the world. In Victorian and Edwardian days, artificial flowers made from velvets, silks and satins adorned the ladies' ball gowns, whilst waxed flowers were used for bridal occasions.

All the samples on display are company originals as are the old clocking-on machine, bridal headdresses (including a R.A.F. pearl tiara), correspondence from the 1920s, Union Jack apple leaves and spools of raw thread used for bindings.