Sports for All - Len Hutton (1916-1990)

Sometimes it can be difficult to think of a subject for the daily blog. There are so many diverse subjects on the Tapestry that a link with the news stories of the day can help. Cricket seems to be featuring heavily at the moment, so not exactly linked to the news story, today's offering is Sir Len Hutton.

Born at Fulneck, Pudsey on 23rd June 1916, he first played cricket, with his father, with Fulneck Sunday School and at the age of 13 was chosen to use the ‘nets’ at Headingley. In 1934 he scored the first of 129 centuries for county and country. In 1938, against the Australians at the Oval, he scored 364 runs, a record that stood for many years until Gary Sobers beat it by one run (against Pakistan in 1958). He was awarded his knighthood in the 1956 New Year’s Honour's List.

The embroidery was hand stitched by Merel Jackson (14 hours). I suspect the print was based on a cigarette card owned by Robin Dove.

Leeds in Bloom - Joe Maiden & Gardening Which

This weekend Leeds Flower Show is taking place at the Grammar School at Leeds up in Alwoodley. Joe Maiden is broadcasting from there this morning for his gardening programme on Radio Leeds.

Renee Davidson stitched the background in counted thread work. A second print of Joe Maiden was made, hand stitched by Merel Jackson (11 hours) and appliqued to the ground. Merel was one of the stalwart helpers at the Show until last year so it's appropriate she stitched Joe.

Quite often there is a link between the embroiderer and the subject.

Textile and Industrial Heritage - Third White Cloth Hall

So, it was from somewhere near this building that Lunardi set off in his balloon in 1786 (just behind the Corn Exchange now, though that wasn't built until the 1860s).

In the 1770s the Third White (undyed) Cloth Hall was built in the Calls. This was a single storey building with Assembly Rooms incorporated over the northern end at a cost of £2500. The bulk of the trade occurred on Tuesdays and Saturdays and one third of all woollen cloth exported from England was handled by Leeds merchants amounting to £1,500,00 a year at a time when a worker’s cottage cost £40 to £50.

The First White Cloth Hall opened in Kirkgate in 1711 as a response to a new hall in Wakefield threatening to take Leeds trade. Before this cloth, woven at home, was sold twice weekly at an open market in Lower Briggate. Facilities included storerooms for individual townships and hamlets, including Bradford, Batley and Heckmondwike. Trade continued to expand at such a pace that a new White Cloth Hall was needed by 1756 and a third erected in 1776.

The Second White Cloth Hall had a life of only 20 years and was demolished in 1786, the only surviving piece is the cupola which was added to the third hall.

By the time the railway arrived the building was obviously not as important and was sliced to make way for the line in the 1860s. The First Hall, though much altered still survives today.

Was there a Fourth Hall near the Mixed Cloth Hall and the cupola from which of these two now adorns the Hotel Metropole? More research needed......

Consulted "The Illustrated History of Leeds". There was indeed a Fourth White Cloth Hall (1868-1895) on the site now occupied by the Hotel Metropole and it is that cupola on top of the hotel.

This printed fabric was hand stitched by Merel Jackson (11 hours)

On the Move - Bicycle

Another sort of bike altogether.

"The Transport Panel was almost complete, it lay horizontally on the trestles. Kate and Brian were laying out the completed pieces on the canvas, endeavouring to obtain balance whilst putting them in approximate date order. Brian drew Kate's attention to the fact that there was no bicycle and offered to sponsor the missing item as his family's contribution. The result can now be seen right in the centre of the panel, a shop delivery cycle with a large basket at the front.

Brian rode such a bike as a teenager, delivering shoe repairs for the family business. In 1936 his father, Harry Jackson, set up in business as a shoe repairer at 220 Harrogate Road. The lock-up shop was built on the site of the yard of the former Queen Hotel.
Brian's wife Merel and sister, Marian Mouncey worked the frame and wheels while Brian completed the basket."

(notes from Brian Jackson 3/11/03)

Community Spirit - Morris Men

Following successful contact with the Briggate Morris Dancers, I can now report that these three are from Leeds Morris Men and from left to right are Rob, Joe and Simon.

Leeds Morris Men was founded in 1950 and there's a grand page on their website on how to distinguish them from other sides (yes, there is a collective name for Morris Men). They use the colours of The University of Leeds, white, burgundy and green and the crossed sash/ribbon is known as a baldric.

They perform most Thursday evenings throughout the summer at different pubs and the full programme can be found on their website. This week its the Howden Arms at Tadcaster and The Greyhound at Saxton.

Rob, Joe and Simon were stitched by Merel Jackson (6 1/2 hours) on printed fabric. The embroidery was scanned before the edges were turned over - hence the black outline. Quite often the edges of the pieces were finished off by other volunteers but I suspect that Merel will have done this one herself. She and Shirley Gale were the chief finishers and 'stitchers-down'. A better view of the image can be got by clicking on it.