Fabric of life

Queen Victoria’s wedding dress set a new trend for white gowns
Escape to the isle of Purbek

This compact corner of Dorset combines an evocative sense of yesteryear with ancient history, diverse natural beauty, and a rich vein of creative inspiration
Meet the collectors

How does a collection begin and what makes a collector tick?
All under one roof

Discover the world of antiques centres – home to an eclectic array of dealers, these one-stop shops offer a unique buying experience, says Emma Longstaff