A stitch in time
Local artists created pictures of 13 scenes of Chesham – many still recognisable today, but some depicting long-vanished treasures, such as the Market Hall which stood in today’s Market Square. Each picture was painstakingly traced and transferred into a chart showing the colours of wool to be used for every stitch. Mrs Hillen even visited the sites in person to ensure the right shade of wool was used to match the brickwork and roofs of each building.
Additional challenges were posed by shortages of wool and postage delays when trying to source materials, and power cuts in 1972 made colour-matching by candlelight a difficult task. However, despite these challenges eight yards (7.32 metres) of canvas were used, and 1,140 skeins of wool in 130 different shades. 518,400 stitches were put into the canvas.
In an egalitarian move characteristic of Chesham, the panels were embroidered by both experienced needleworkers and total novices, the latter receiving instruction and guidance from their more experienced counterparts. Each panel took between three and six months to complete.
Artistry and enterprise
The tapestry was framed with a border of embroidered beech leaves to celebrate Chesham’s countryside and the historic industries of Chesham were represented by the inclusion of a boot, a brush, a pint of beer and a piece of lace in the four corners. The large middle scene of St Mary’s Church and Lowndes Park in the snow was reproduced in the form of a limited number of tapestry packs which included the chart, canvas and wool necessary to reproduce this scene. These packs were sold to raise money to help fund the project.
The conservator who recently inspected the tapestry was pleased to report ‘I have rarely assessed a community textile project as technically well executed as the Chesham Tapestry’. That’s something well worth preserving.
Article provided by The Chesham Society.
Read more on Chesham Museum’s website about the Chesham Tapestry and see the full list of panels
