Country Houses and Palace Uniforms
Bespoke Uniforms for Historic Venues and Heritage Sites
In prestigious heritage settings like palaces, historic estates, and stately homes, uniforms play a vital role in preserving tradition while enhancing the visitor experience.
At JSD, we create fully bespoke heritage uniforms designed to reflect your organisation’s story and values. Whether you’re welcoming thousands of visitors or hosting private events, our staff uniforms combine timeless elegance with functional design.
Our design philosophy is rooted in storytelling — your uniforms are not just workwear, they are an extension of your brand narrative.
We balance heritage inspiration with practical modernity to deliver garments that reinforce both prestige and professionalism.
Classic Design Meets Modern Practicality
Staff at historic venues often work across varied environments — from formal receptions and guided tours to retail shops and outdoor grounds.
We design country house uniforms using breathable, comfortable fabrics, tailored fits, and thoughtful features that support both formality and movement.
We pay close attention to detail — ensuring every element, from cut and colour to trims and fastenings, respects the site’s heritage while offering modern comfort.
Uniforms are adapted to seasonality, with layered options for outdoor teams and easy-care, smart garments for interior staff. As an experienced uniform supplier, we also ensure each garment meets durability standards for busy, high-footfall visitor destinations.
Our uniforms are also designed to be adaptable across departments.
Whether it’s a visitor services manager, retail assistant, tour guide, or event coordinator, every piece works in harmony to maintain brand consistency across roles — a crucial factor for high-profile, guest-facing operations.
Why Work with JSD?
JSD has over 40 years of experience creating bespoke uniforms for some of the UK’s most iconic institutions.
We take a highly collaborative approach: consulting with in-house teams, historians, and branding experts to ensure our designs reflect each venue’s visual identity and operational demands.
We are proud to be a certified B Corp. Our commitment to sustainability means we prioritise recycled and responsibly sourced materials, transparent supply chains, and long-lasting garment design. As an ethical uniform supplier, we partner with heritage and cultural institutions to reduce environmental impact without compromising historical integrity.
We also provide expert guidance on the entire garment lifecycle — from initial concept and production to end-of-life solutions such as garment recycling and repurposing, helping your organisation stay aligned with environmental goals and circular economy practices.
Explore our thinking on how thoughtful uniform design impacts employee happiness and the importance of multifunctional uniforms.
Case Study: Hampton Court Palace
Hampton Court Palace, one of the five Historic Royal Palaces (HRP), contracted with JSD to design and manufacture a distinctive heritage-look uniform.
The Palace briefed us to dress its staff – who annually welcome 999,000+ visitors to King Henry VIII’s favourite residence – to withstand chill winds and draughty corridors and courtyards.
The priority was to ensure that staff members are warm at all times. We had previously produced uniforms for Kensington Palace employees and so the HRP group knew the quality and service that we deliver and that JSD has excellent UK manufacturing contacts, another of the group’s prerequisites.
“Visitors to this historic location expect staff and volunteers to wear uniforms that reflect the extraordinary heritage of the Palace, clothes that are intrinsically English and in iconic colours. The design solutions had to reflect that.”
The JSD in-house design team presented designs to the HRP staff focus group. Feedback was that the coat needed to be more fitted and flattering than before. Previously, staff had felt that they were not identified and did not stand out amongst visitors, they wanted to look and feel differentiated. There was a requirement for an ergonomic design with waistband features that allow guides to carry two-way radios, plus internal pockets to carry maps, keys and guide books.
“We produced first samples, in a striking red wool melton, with dark blue velvet ribbon trim, and then returned for a second focus group with toiles for staff to try,” remembers the team. Our design for bespoke gilt buttons and a specially commissioned crest – based on King Henry VIII’s Tudor Rose – became an important element. The design had to be approved by HM The Queen.”
JSD designed the dark green gilet for kitchen staff in a quilted fireproofed fabric, trimmed with velvet and gilt buttons, and with the same Tudor Rose wired crest.
Hampton Court Palace also agreed to our suggestion of a neat, long-line waistcoat, in red and black with gold piping, for added warmth,.
Discussions at the staff focus groups also identified the need for a tailored summer coat, with showerproof finish and removable lining, to be worn when the temperatures soar.
“Visitors remark on the smart appearance of the guides and ‘meet and greet’ staff, especially in the winter coat,” says Ann Dowdeswell, CEO of JSD. “We have given the staff a uniform that they can be proud of – and a very British look that is in keeping with this historic Royal Palace.”
Read the full Historic Royal Palaces case study.
Let’s Design Uniforms That Honour the Past and Support the Present
Looking for elegant, bespoke uniforms for your historic venue or country estate?
Contact JSD today — and let’s create leisure uniforms that reflect your site’s heritage while supporting your team with modern, functional design.
As experienced staff uniform manufacturers, we’re here to deliver quality, consistency, and style that stands the test of time.
