Black waistcoat belonging to naval chaplain Reverend Richard Swanwick Hartley. The waistcoat is of Irish poplin and fastens on the right with nine black satin covered buttons. There are two narrow fob pockets on either side.

Hartley was appointed a naval chaplain in 1886. However, chaplain’s dress does not appear in regulations until 1891. This tailcoat, waistcoat, breeches and silk stockings would have been part of evening wear, as is noted in the 1891 regulations: '…in the evening, when officers wear full dress or ball dress, the waistcoat shall be a black silk cassock one, and, instead of trousers, shall be worn black cloth knee breeches, with black silk stockings and patent leather shoes with silver or plated buckles.'