of four in the years 1853–1855. As an example of the style of these works, Mr Buckstone's Voyage Round the Globe (1854), which played at the Haymarket Theatre, includes the words: Retirement and legacy Planché semi-retired from the theatre in 1852 and went to live in Kent with his younger daughter (although he returned to London two years later on his appointment as Rouge Croix Pursuivant). He continued to write occasionally for the theatre, but only produced 16 more pieces between 1852 and 1871. Critics writing at the end of the nineteenth century praised Planché with sentiments such as "[Planché] raised theatrical extravaganza and burlesque to the dignity of a fine art, and wrote verses to be sung on the stage which could be read with pleasure in the study." and "I am quite certain that such masters of lyrical writing as W. S. Gilbert ... would confirm me in my opinion that the songs and lyrics in the extravaganzas of Planché were as faultless in tone, tact and taste as they were rhythmically perfect". (The converse was also true; Planché approved of, and strongly influenced Gilbert's works) Planché's dramatic reputation was already fading before his death, and continued to do so in the twentieth century. He is still remembered for his influence on and contributions to British theatre over a long career. Antiquarian career Planché's research to determine historically accurate costume for the 1823 production of King John led to his developing a strong interest in the subject. When he published his first major work in 1834, History of British Costume from the Earliest Period to the Close of the 18th Century, Planché described it as "the result of ten years' diligent devotion to its study of every leisure hour left me by my professional engagements". Prior to this Planché had published his costume designs for King John and the other Shakespeare plays, with "biographical, critical and explanatory notices". After travelling twice to the Continent, he wrote about his journeys in Lays and Legends of the Rhine (1826) and Descent of the Danube (1827). Planché's scholarship was recognised in his election in 1829 as a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London. He was a regular attendee at the Society's meetings and contributed to its journal, Archaeologia. However, he became dissatisfied with its management, complaining of "the lethargy into which the Society of Antiquaries had fallen, the dreariness