This bra was discovered hidden in a vault at Lengberg Castle in East Tyrol and is thought to date back to the 15th century. Hilary Davidson, fashion curator at the Museum of London, said the discovery ‘totally rewrites’ fashion history. ‘Nothing like this has ever come up before.’ She believes it is ‘entirely probable’ that something similar was worn by Britain’s medieval women. ‘It’s rare that everyday garments of any kind survive from this period, let alone underwear.

Despite their state of decay, the knickers bear more than a passing resemblance to the string bikini briefs popular today, while the bra has the fitted cups and delicate straps of its modern-day counterparts.

#Century