The Duke of Krakow and The History of the Scarf

It was back in the harsh winter of 1783 that the celebrated explorer the Duke of Krakow hit upon the idea of wrapping a length of material around his neck to keep it warm.

Whilst visiting Yeovil to obtain provisions for a forthcoming expedition to the Galapagos Islands, he noticed a distinct chilliness around the collar, which was followed later in the day by some stiffness in his neck.

The Duke consulted his physician, the eminent Dr Ramsbotham, who in his time was also a celebrated agriculturist and sheep improver. (He founded the Ramsbotham Sheep Improvement Company in 1765).

Dr Ramsbotham advised the Duke that he had suffered a minor chill as a result of his neck being exposed to the cold Somerset air and that he should try to keep it covered to prevent this from occurring again.

This gave the Duke the idea of devising a way of insulating his neck and had the idea of using wool from Dr Ramsbotham's sheep. A keen knitter, the Duke decided to knit himself a long piece of woollen material to wrap around the top of his coat - and the scarf was born.

Fashion historians have thought long and hard for a reason why the scarf was not invented earlier in the Fashion Revolution that took place in the late 18th Century. However, they are unable to provide a salient reason, apart from the fact that the Duke of Krakow was the best amateur fashion designer / small scale manufacturer, until the arrival of Mr Crispin Featherdown Esq. on the scene in the late 1850s.

It has been noted that the idea for Tom Baker's long scarf, while playing Doctor Who in the BBC TV programme, was obtained from designs that the Duke had bequeathed to the nation upon his investiture into the Royal Company of Scarfers and Neckerchiefiers (the trade body for designers and manufacturers of scarves and neckerchiefs).

However, the length of the Duke's scarf was to be his downfall. Whilst exploring an uncharted area of South-West Cheshire, his extraordinarily long scarf  unravelled and became caught up in the runners of his husky-pulled sledge (Cheshire suffered particularly harsh winters during the 18th Century), strangling  him.

He was found with his dogs 20 miles directly to the west of Chester. Having had no issue, his fortune was left to his husky pack. Rather ironic, one thinks, as they were responsible for his untimely demise. But the legacy of his invention was left to the world.