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A thousand years of Bradford on Avon’s history in stitch
Over the last three years, over 46 people have spent nearly 3600 hours to complete the Bradford on Avon Millennium embroidery. Twelve panels depicting a thousand years of Bradford’s history are on display in Holy Trinity Church, Bradford on Avon every weekday from 10.15 am - 12.15 and 3 -4.30 pm; Saturdays 10.15 - 12.15 and 2 - 5pm and Sundays 2 - 5pm until mid-October 2003.
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The 12 panels illustrate a 1,000 years of Bradford's history
The panels illustrate the history of the town from 1000 – 2000 and have created a lot of interest. The project was the idea of Mervyn Harris of Bradford on Avon Museum Society and a small committee met with local historians Douglas Crowther, Roger Clarke and Michael Marshman of Wiltshire County Council. It was felt to be of the utmost importance that historical accuracy was achieved insofar as this is possible on present knowledge.
Local artist Jeanne Walpole was commissioned in April 2000 to provide designs for the twelve panels. It was felt her style suited the project and she was provided with historical information including many books and pictures to give guidance on buildings, modes of dress etc. Her preferred method of working is, after initial sketches, to paint her designs in acrylic paint on board. It was agreed that there could be some flexibility in interpreting her designs to meet the demands of the stitchers. The artist and project coordinator worked closely together to ensure consistency of interpretation and style.
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Interpretation in embroidery
The committee undertook research including visiting the annual degree show at the Windsor College of Art in June 2001 where outstanding examples of modern embroidery are shown. In September they also visited the Victorian reproduction of the Bayeux Tapestry displayed in Reading Museum. Individuals also visited other local and national embroidery exhibitions.
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Some of the technical details
It was important that stitches chosen should be those that could be easily mastered by people with different levels of skill, whilst at the same time enabling a high standard of work to be achieved. After many experimental pieces by a number of individuals, using different types of cloth and threads, the decision was taken that the main stitch should be chain stitch. This has proved very successful. The stitch has proved effective in enabling delicate shading and texture of individual figures on the panels whilst allowing a large number of people to achieve a high quality of work and maintain its essential liveliness.
The materials used had to be carefully thought out and consideration given to use of fabrics and threads that would not deteriorate over the years. The background to the panels was painted on cotton fabric with fabric paints before being padded and quilted. Individual figures were drawn onto firm cotton, coloured with fabric paints, backed with Vilene and lightly padded and edged in machine stitch, before the final chain stitching was applied. After cutting out the edge of the figures have been painted to match the embroidery.
One of the mysteries surrounding the original Bayeux Tapestry is that it does not include the names of those who worked it. The reproduction at Reading Museum includes the names of the Victorian ladies who worked on it and we have embroidered the names of those working the figures on the back of our panels.
Working on the project has prompted a lively interest in Bradford on Avon’s history as well as enabling many people to become involved in the workshops and make new friends.
There has been considerable press coverage and the exhibition was filmed for the local TV news programmes on Points West and HTV on 1st April. (Websites www.bradfordonavon.org.uk and www.bbc.co.uk/wiltshire/features also give details of the project.)
With assistance from Roger Jones at Ex Libris and the Museum Society the organising committee has produced a small booklet (price £3) with illustrations of all the panels, details of contributors and sponsors and articles about the background to the project and the embroidery techniques used. Postcards of three of the panels are also available at 35p each. The booklet and postcards can be purchased at the exhibition, and at Ex Libris bookshop, Quire and the Tourist Information office in Bradford on Avon.
Daphne Hancock
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