Casgliadau Arlein

Order of St John black woollen cloak made from fine black twill wool Sleeveless with 4cm wide collar and short cape (down to cover tops of shoulders). Cloak is gathered into a yoke at shoulder height. CF of yoke section is fastened with 7 metal hooks and eyes (bottom-most hook attaches to a stitched loop); below that, cloak is fastened with 7 black plastic buttons down centre front. The edges of the front opening have a single turn back with selvage edges.
Neck/collar/shoulders are lined with black cotton sateen. Arm slits bound in black twill tape. Box pleat at CB, made with a 25cm wide insert of fabric, which extends down the entire length of the CB of the cloak. Cape is trimmed with 4cm wide black braid edging; Cape is constructed from two parts with a seam at CB which has selvages on either side. There is one inwards-facing pleat on either side of centre front opening.
Two badges are hand-stitched to upper right chest: number '11' embroidered in metal thread on roundel of black fulled wool ground (Ø 22mm); St John's Ambulance Brigade badge below: padded ring covered in white cellulosic tabby woven fabric, thin white leather or paper? and white tabby woven silk; embroidered inscription using black wool (?); Maltese cross in centre of ring, embroidered in metal thread and metal wire, as well as white silk or cotton thread, on roundel of black fulled wool ground (Ø 56mm). Scrolly monogram 'WR' in written or printed in black on white cotton tape stitched to inner CB (at lower edge of lining). It appears that the cloak has been shortened by 7.5cm: the original hem has a 5cm wide machine stitched double-turnback; but this has been turned up once again (by 7.5cm) and is secured by hand-sewn slip stitches.