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Bridlington - Priory Church of Saint Mary

East Yorkshire

 

History Tapestry

 

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The Priory Church of St Mary, Bridlington, has a brilliant display of 12 tapestry frames illustrating its history.  Each panel measures 5ft by 4ft so these little photos do not give a full feel for the impact of the real thing - go there and enjoy!

 

The church's web site gives this background information about the tapestry:

 

In 1994, some ladies at Bridlington Priory decided to make a tapestry depicting the major events in its life. After some discussion, they agreed to use applique panels, and by Christmas 1995, 12 panels, each 5ft by 4ft were almost complete.

 

John Earnshaw, who was a local historian and artist, and also a Priory parishioner, was given a list of important events in the history of the church, from which he selected the subjects of 10 tapestries. He drew detailed sketches from which panels were made, and the last two panels show the modern church.

 

After several discussions, final sketches were produced on A2 paper. Each of the 12 sketches was divided into eighths, and these were photocopied with 100% enlargement. The enlarged eighths were assembled, and each whole panel worked into 7.5cm squares, which were transferred to a single full size sheet of paper by copying square by square.

 

Background fabrics were chosen: the reverse side of khaki green dralon for the panels, and tweed for the border to frame the panels. Black piping was made to outline the panels. The design was transferred with the help of grid lines tacked on to the panel fabric.

 

The set of tapestries includes over 140 human figures, each built like a doll, then sewn to the backing.

 

Materials used include: leather, hessian, linen, wool, cord, fleece, velvet, yarn, ribbon, cheesecloth, cellophane, suede, silk, satin, corduroy, milium, fur fabric, lurex, balsa wood, raspberry cane, net, aluminium, and feathers.

 

To create the varied applique, the sewing team had to be inventive, resourceful, and imaginative to achieve the desired effects.

 

For example, Henry I in panel 1:

 

As a base to build on, vilene was used with a line drawing of the figure traced on it.

  • many features are padded

  • the face is silk, the hair is yarn

  • arms and legs were made separately as straight tubes and positioned with the garment folds

  • the king's robe is cut from a very old altar cloth, and his cloak from a velvet cushion cover.

1 panel was made by a panel of 4 workers, 3 were made by cooperating pairs, and 8 were made by individual workers.

 

Link to St Mary's Priory Church Website

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 

 

The large wealthy Priory seems to have suffered more physical damage than most at dissolution time in 1538, when it is said that all the buildings except the nave were destroyed.  It is more probable that the decay happened over the next century, with Cromwell's men finishing the task with gusto.

 

Many of the Abbots and Priors of condemned monasteries were given handsome bribes to go away quietly and live happily ever after - and most did.  Not however William Wode, Prior of Bridlington until a short time before the final dissolution.  He joined "The Pilgrimage of Grace" - a movement based at York and aimed at re-establishing monasteries and ties with the church of Rome.  The movement had significant support in the north, but was outmanoeuvred by the two-timing Henry VIII, and 216 lords, knights, and others including Wode and the Abbot of Fountains, ended up being executed.  

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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All original material © Adrian Fletcher 2000-12 - The contents may not be hotlinked, or reproduced without permission