Doon Lovett, conservator at the Textile Conservation Centre, working on the rare shoes. Photo Textile Conservation Centre, University of Southampton

A rare pair of shoes, once thought to have belonged to Queen Elizabeth I, are being restored for display at Reading Museum.

The Berkshire museum has received a £8,500 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund and a further £2,750 from the Leche Trust to fund specialised conservation work on the ornate footwear.

Originally known as ‘Queen Elizabeth’s Slippers’ they were donated to the museum in 1949. They have since been dated to the early 18th century, so could not have been worn by the ‘Virgin Queen’, who lived from 1533 to 1603.

“I am delighted that these beautiful shoes are being conserved for the future and will be continue to be cared for by the Museum of Reading,” said Cllr Richard McKenzie, Deputy Lead of Culture for Reading Borough Council. “I’d like to thanks the funders and the Textile Conservation Centre for carrying out this specialised, delicate work.”

The shoes will go on display in Reading after being restored. Photo Textile Conservation Centre, University of Southampton

The shoes are significant examples of surviving 1700s footwear and would have been very fashionable when they were made, probably belonging to a wealthy woman at the Royal Court in London.

Made of blue, green and red silk they include designs of pomegranates and stylised leaves and have clogs worn underneath for protection against the wet and dirt. These clogs were most likely a novelty feature, as a high-class woman would normally avoid these nuisances.

Conservation work is being undertaken by the Textile Conservation Centre of the University of Southampton. The centre is internationally known for its leading work in educating textile conservators and for research into textile conservation.

The centre will look into the shoes’ style, fabric and construction and use their findings to create a virtual image of how they looked when new. After conservation they will be put on permanent display at Reading Museum.