A Gem of a Party Opulence, Gowns and High Society Jewels

A regular Jewellery Specialist on the BBC’s Antiques Roadshow

In aid of the Harrogate RNLI

Join us for a bejewelled lunch at Rudding Park with Jewellery Specialist Susan Rumfitt as we step inside the most exclusive ballrooms of the Gilded Age.

This illustrated talk explores the breathtaking craftsmanship and theatrical brilliance of the jewellery worn at legendary events including the 1897 Devonshire House Ball.

Discover the hostesses who pinned their family fortunes to their gowns, and the high-society rivalries that turned the ballroom into a sparkling psychological battlefield.

Bio: Susan has been a regular specialist on the BBC’s Antiques Roadshow for over 20 years. Based at her Gallery in the heart of Harrogate, Susan offers regular valuation and lecture events. She is an accredited lecturer for the Arts Society and is a Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths’.

At a glance
📅 Tuesday 24 November 2026, 10.30am
☕ Tea and coffee on arrival
🎙️ A talk by Susan Rumfitt, one of the regular jewellery specialists on the BBC's Antiques Roadshow
🍽️ Two-course lunch
📍 Rudding Park
🎟️ £60 per person, in aid of the Harrogate RNLI

To book your place or for further details contact harrogaternli@aol.com