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Bradford-on-Avon Millennium Embroidery Project
Location: Wiltshire
This LHI project enabled a group of volunteers in Bradford-on-Avon to celebrate the first 1,000 years since the Wiltshire town received its charter. As a result, Bradford-on-Avon now has a lasting record of ten centuries of local history and cherished heritage features.
After research by a range of volunteers, the group chose twelve particular scenes to represent local life in each century from 1000 to 2000 AD, including King John's visit in 1216, cottage cloth workers' riots at Westbury House in 1791, and finally the town's Millennium Y2K firework celebrations.
Local artist Jeanne Walpole was commissioned to create a series of design cartoons which were then transposed into embroidery patterns on panels measuring 24 by 20 inches.
Altogether 46 people took part in the sewing, meeting fortnightly in groups of about 15 each time. Individuals took on specific roles, such as preparing or quilting backgrounds, or making individual character figures. And to commemorate the community's involvement in the project, the names of everyone involved have been stitched on the reverse of each panel.
The finished Embroidery - hailed by visitors as "the Bayeux tapestry of the west of England" - was unveiled in March 2003, and has since been on public display in various local venues.
From November 12 until the New Year the Embroidery will be on display in Bradford-on-Avon town library (Weds to Sun 2pm - 4pm, Thurs and Sat also 10.30am - 12.30pm).
An explanatory booklet about the Embroidery, and a pictorial appointment calendar have been produced to raise funds to pay for special protective frames. Both are available from the library and the tourist information centre.
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Heritage Lottery Fund: £3,452.00
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