A lovely aspect of having the Quaker Tapestry on public display is reuniting with it’s makers. The vibrant embroidered panels were made by 4,000 men, women and children from 15 countries. Over the years many of these people have visited the Quaker Tapestry. One of those who contributed to the creation of the Quaker Tapestry was Stuart Howarth, who visited the museum with his family recently. Stuart had stitched on the Coalbrookdale panel
Stuart was one of the children attending Bakewell Meeting when the Coalbrookdale panel was being stitched. He was around 8 years old when, after careful practice, he was given the responsibility of stitching the left hand section of grass on the panel, whilst his brother stitched the right hand section of grass. Stuart remembers being given shades of green to use and thinking to himself that during the industrial revolution the grass would be sooty and dirty so he introduced some grey shades for realism. Here Stuart and his daughter Erica are pictured with the Coalbrookdale panel.
About Coalbrookdale
In 1708 the Bristol brassfounder Abraham Darby I took over the leases of some furnaces in Coalbrookdale. The fuel problem for the industry was acute – even a century earlier the spoliation of woods by charcoal burners was a problem, and the seventeenth century saw several attempts to smelt iron with coal or coke instead of charcoal.
By 1711 Abraham Darby discovered how to do this for his specialised business in cast-iron pots, kettles and other small ware. But it was not until mid-century that Abraham Darby III was able to do away altogether with expensive charcoal-smelting. His breakthrough enabled the company to meet the growing demand from makers of nails and small ironware in the midlands. Throughout the eighteenth century the Coalbrookdale Company maintained its vigour, flexibility and pioneering spirit.
While other industrialists were moving to country homes the Darbys lived in comfortable simplicity, close to ‘the stupendous Bellows and mighty Cylinders’ of the works and close to their workpeople. Their profits were reinvested in the business, or devoted to the welfare of their workpeople, or used in philanthropy.
On the other side of the Severn the non-Quaker ironmaster John Wilkinson had a growing business. In 1775 he with Abraham Darby III called together a group of ironmasters to consider the erection of an iron bridge. It was cast at Coalbrookdale in 1778 – 9 and was formally opened on 1st January 1781.
About the panel
This panel was designed by Joe McCrum and embroidered by Bakewell and Sheffield Meetings.
The bridge dominates the panel and uses mainly different thicknesses of Quaker stitch. The hand woven material makes it unnecessary to do more than a simple line for many of the buildings, emphasising the contrast of the flames and smoke issuing from the blast furnaces, kilns and chimneys.
The buildings, artistically framed in the arc of the bridge, comprise of the industrial activities of the dale; smelters, pottery kilns, workers houses and community facilities.
The writing in the panel below the buildings alludes to the philanthropy of the Darbys and other ironmasters. Many Quaker families such as the Cadburys were also involved in building model villages and communities for their workers and provided facilities for their health, welfare and education. This was unusual for that time.
Supporting the Quaker Tapestry
- Buy lovely things from us – Our museum shop in Kendal and our online shop are full of fantastic gifts
- Make a donation to our work – Did you know that we’re a registered charity as well as a visitor attraction?
- Plan a visit to the Quaker Tapestry Museum – Encourage others to visit too, you can now book your tickets online
- Book a short break – Stay in our charming onsite Courtyard Flat via Airbnb
- Become a Quaker Tapestry Member – Annual or Life Memberships are available, as well as gifting a Membership
