Hannah Hauxwell's treasured family quilt set to set to star in Bowes Museum exhibition

When world famous Daleswoman Hannah Hauxwell left Low Birk Hatt, her remote family farm in Baldersdale, to downsize to a more manageable cottage, she was forced to slim down her belongings. It was a heartbreaking task for Hannah, a self-confessed hoarder who never threw anything away in case it came in handy. She had to choose only the items she treasured most and among them was a linen press holding a collection of handmade family quilts going back generations.

After her death aged 91 in January 2018, the quilts were auctioned with all going to private buyers except one, which was bought by The Bowes Museum. Now, the late 19th century strippy quilt made by Hannah’s grandmother, Elizabeth Bayles, is set to go on display at the Barnard Castle museum in an exhibition titled North Country Quilts: In Celebration of New Acquisitions, which runs from March 20 to September 19 next year.

Alison White of the Bowes Museum says: “It is a classic example of a North Country quilt with a bold but simple design made from charming cotton prints that captivate the eye.”

All the women in Hannah’s family were seamstresses and their quilts have the same pattern of stitches and three rounded and one squared corner. One theory is that the one different corner is a reminder that only God can be perfect. Hannah, who was left alone at Low Birk Hatt at the age of 34 after the death of her mother and uncle, would no doubt be thrilled to know that her grandmother’s needlework will soon be on show to the public.

The Bowes Museum began collecting quilts in the 1930s and has since gained national recognition for its extensive collection, some of which dates from the late 1700s. North Country quilts have their own distinctive style, including quilting patterns stitched through the layers of fabric to create softly sculptured surfaces. In communities like Teesdale, Weardale and Allendale making them was both a means of generating income and a social activity.

The exhibition is being curated by Joanna Hashagen, the curator of fashion and textiles at The Bowes Museum and Dorothy Osler, author and exhibition consultant, who is also writing a catalogue to accompany the show.

Joanna says: “I have spent a lot of time carefully acquiring quilts that complement and add to the collection in the last twenty years and this seemed like the right time to share a selection. It is also a way of thanking those who have donated their treasured quilts to The Bowes Museum. I think visitors will be enthralled by the different quilts in the exhibition and it will show them the importance and relevance of our cultural textile history. I also hope that the exhibition will inspire some of them to take up and enjoy making patchwork or quilting.”

Admission to the museum is now by advance booking, tickets for timed entry slots are available from www.thebowesmuseum.org.uk or by calling 01833 690606.

The Museum has been awarded Visit England’s “We’re Good To Go” certification. Hand sanitisation stations and signage reminding people to adhere to social distancing are placed around the museum and gardens. The Museum is currently closed due to the national restrictions in England but hopes to reopen from 10am to 5pm daily on December 3, 2020, and is usually only closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day.

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