Chapel wedding dress exhibition extended

There are dresses from almost every decade of the 20th century

An exhibition featuring a century of wedding dresses has been extended.

The 72 gowns, including reproductions of those worn by royalty, went on display at Ushaw College in Durham in March and was due to end in May, but has been extended to the end of June.

Curated by Kevin Thornhill from Sunderland, the dresses include one made by the legendary French fashion designer Coco Chanel.

Andrew Heard, the visitor programmes manager, says the exhibition "has surpassed expectations".

"I think the dresses provide a historical insight and are evocative of a shared experience for many of us," he added.

The dresses are on display around the chapel complex at Ushaw College, Durham

The exhibition shows how styles and materials have changed over the decades, including those borrowed and adapted through the two world wars.

Ushaw College was once a Roman Catholic seminary where thousands of men trained to become priests

Sanjay Gidda, the marketing manager at Ushaw, said: "It just seems to be an exhibition the public are really able to resonate with by taking a nostalgic journey through time."

Ushaw College, a former Roman Catholic seminary which trained hundreds of priests, is now a cultural and arts venue.