Outlander dress worn by Geillis Duncan in hit TV show on display at Culross Palace

A dress worn by the character Geillis Duncan in the first series of hit TV show Outlander is going on display at Culross Palace.

The Royal Burgh of Culross, along with many other places in Scotland, have been used as filming locations for the series. As it enters its eighth and final season later this year, the The National Trust for Scotland is celebrating this global phenomenon by displaying a real costume that brings a piece of the story to life.

The character Geillis, played in the series by Lotte Verbeek, is first seen in Season 1 and wore the dress made of felted wool bodice and a heavy wool weave skirt. Geillis’ costumes were deliberately designed to reflect her 1960s life to create a feeling for the audience that she was out of place in the 18th century, before it was revealed that she was a time traveller.

Fans of the series will recognise Culross as the fictional village of Cranesmuir in seasons one and two, and the village, Culross Palace, and the Palace’s garden have featured in a variety of scenes throughout the show.

From 16 July, the dress, by Terry Dresbach, costume designer on Outlander Seasons 1-4, will be on display within Culross Palace with its accompanying white under garment, corset, and underskirt.

Geillis Duncan, or Gillie Duncan, was a real person. She was accused by magistrate David Seton of witchcraft in 1590 and her forced confession fuelled witchcraft accusations in Scotland, contributing to the North Berwick witch trials and accusations against more than sixty people.

‘We’ve had a great relationship with the production of Outlander for more than a decade,’ Anna Rathband, NTS filming manager said.

‘Six out of its eight seasons filmed at Trust places, including Culross Palace, Falkland Palace, the Hermitage, Newhailes, and Preston Mill. Hundreds, if not thousands, of Outlander fans have already come from across the world to engage with the story and to learn more about the history of our country.

‘We’re excited to bring a piece of Outlander to Culross Palace and make Geillis’ dress available for the public to see up close.’

The TV series, inspired by Diana Gabaldon’s international best-selling books which have sold an estimated 50 million copies worldwide, has become a worldwide success with audiences, spanning the genres of history, science fiction, romance, and adventure in one amazing tale.

In Outlander, Geillis first appears in 1743 and befriends the main character, Claire Randall. Eventually, Geillis is tried and executed for witchcraft, revealing her real name is Gillian Edgars, a Jacobite who deliberately returned to Scotland before the 1745 uprising, to try and change the course of history.

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