LEEK FESTIVAL OF TEXTILES
Exhibition tells tales of
LEEK and District Historical Society recently received a major financial boost thanks to a grant of £ 15,200 from the Heritage Lottery Fund ( HLF ) to stage a Festival of Textiles in the town .
The festival aims to raise awareness of the town ’ s secret textile heritage that even today remains largely unknown . Dr Brenda King , a textile historian and a member of the society , and Cathryn Walton a local historian and secretary of the group have been researching this fascinating aspect of Leek ’ s history for many years . The Extraordinary Leek Embroidery Society Exhibition was launched at the end of June and will run throughout the summer until September 14th .
Besides staging a major exhibition the project aims to carry out essential conservation work on embroidery designs by Gerald Horsley and provide a number of walks , talks and workshops . Eight churches in Leek and the surrounding villages will also open on specified dates to display their ecclesiastical embroideries , some of which have been seldom seen by the public .
The Leek Embroidery Society was founded in 1879 by Thomas and Elizabeth Wardle from their home in St Edward Street in Leek . Elizabeth Wardle , the superintendent of the society , worked closely with her pupils and other needlewomen to stitch exquisite , distinctive embroidery using tussah silk threads .
Robert Craddick , the Chairman of Leek and District Historical Society said : “ We ’ re delighted that the Heritage Lottery Fund has given us this support . One of the aims of the society is to raise awareness in the local community of Leek ’ s textile heritage . The Embroidery Exhibition with its satellite exhibitions in churches and associated walks , talks and workshops
The festival aims to raise awareness of the town ’ s secret textile heritage that even today remains largely unknown
will certainly emphasize the important contribution that the Leek Embroidery Society made to Leek ’ s rich arts and crafts heritage .”
The Extraordinary Leek Embroidery Society Exhibition opened on Saturday 29th June and will run in both the Museum and Art Gallery in The Nicholson Institute in Stockwell Street , Leek until Saturday 14th September .
On display will be many fascinating pieces and original designs by eminent architects many of which have never been seen in public before . . For further details and information about the exhibition or the Leek and Moorlands Church trail running in conjunction with the Textile Festival visit the tourist information in the Market Place ,, visit www . wardleheritage . org . uk or email bm . king @ btinternet . com or wcathryn @ hotmail . com .
Also part of the Festival will be three free Heritage Lottery Funded talks which will take place at the Foxlowe Arts Centre . The first one took place on Wednesday 19th June entitled ‘ Hidden Lives ’ The stories of the Leek needlewomen which was an illustrated talk by Cathryn Walton .
The second illustrated talk will take place on Wednesday 31st July entitled ‘ And yet we will build a cathedral ’ the story of Leek ’ s own Arts and Crafts church All Saints conducted by reverend Michael Fisher .
And the third will commence on Wednesday 14th August hosted by Dr Brenda King entitled ‘ Thomas and Elizabeth Wardle , a Creative Couple ’.
The free guided walks aptly named ‘ Threads ’ will start from the Tourist Information Centre in Leek at 2pm on Saturday 6th July ; Saturday 20th July ; Saturday 24th August ; and Saturday 14th September .
16 Leek Life July / August 2013