Community Spirit - Common Purpose

Kate and I have just been interviewed by James, a student at Leeds Met, who is writing a piece about the Tapestry on the University web magazine. This reminded me that one of the factors which led to Kate instigating such a huge project was 'Common Purpose'

"Common Purpose is all about finding, encouraging and developing leaders: wherever they are and whatever they are currently doing. To encourage individuals to help to change and improve society (rather than waiting for others to take the lead always)."

A precursor of Mr Cameron's big society.

The embroidered logo is one of the few on the panels which was executed using a domestic computerised sewing machine.

Textile and Industrial Heritage - Marks and Spencer

Apologies for the lack of blogging for the last few months. I've finally found the passwords in an old diary.

Marks and Spencer is the feature today, for the last year or so we've been aware that the firm were having a purpose built archive in Leeds and on Friday of this week (March 16th) it will be open to the public for the first time. It's handily situated on the old Grammar School site at the University of Leeds so both M&S and Ulita (University of Leeds Textile Archive held in the former Grammar School Chapel) can be visited in one outing. Leeds is finally getting textile archives which reflect the history of the City.

Michael Marks(1863-1909) was born in Bialystock in Poland and came to England in 1882. Looking for Barran's works he stumbled into Dewhirst's wholesale factory, borrowed £5 and used it to buy goods to sell as a pedlar. In 1884 he opened a stall in Kirkgate Market where his catch phrase became "Don't ask the price; its a penny". By 1890 he had 5 of these Penny Bazaars in Leeds, Castleford, Wakefield, Warrington and Birkenhead and was looking for a partner to help with the expansion. Thomas Spencer (1888-1964), the cashier and book keeper for Dewhirsts was recommended and they formed the partnership in 1894. By 1905 together they had opened 70 bazaars

The embroidery was hand stitched by Joan Holah on printed fabric.

Faith in the City - Binns Organ

This week only. Lidgett Park Methodist Church is having an open week with a small display of Christening Robes and Wedding Dresses belonging to members of the congregation.

I went along to visit and realise they have one of James Jepson Binn's organs, which had originally been designed and fitted at Eldon Methodist Church in Woodhouse Lane.

Apparently there used to be quite a community of organ builders in Bramley, the most notable being "Battleship Binns". One of his instruments was embroidered by Anne Boyle for the Faith Panel but unfortunately the database doesn't include where this organ is housed.

I quote from the Albert Hall, Nottingham website

James Jepson Binns (1855-1928) was one of the most successful and prolific of the numerous Yorkshire organ builders working at the turn of the 20th century. The firm's most distinguished work was produced between the 1890s and the First World War. Binns was initially apprenticed to the Leeds firm of Radcliffe and Sagar, and from about 1873 to 1880 he worked for Abbott and Smith, latterly as head voicer. He established his Bramley Organ Works in 1880.

For those interested in finding more Binn's organs there's a Wiki site listing locations

Education Panel - Garforth Community College

Another piece worked in Mumbai by Zuber Mohammed and his team, co-ordinated by Ayesha Dost.

The School was formerly known as Garforth Comprehensive School (until 1992) and since the Tapestry was completed has had another name change to Garforth Academy with specialist Arts College status.

Faith in the City - Medina

In celebration of a rare opportunity to watch an entire programme (Hidden Treasures of India, broadcast on Friday BBC2 at 9.00pm - check out iPlayer) devoted to textiles, this piece, mainly of Aari work is today's offering. In the programme it was suggested that this sort of work is no longer made commercially in Gujarat, but it's certainly still made in Mumbai.


Medina is the second most sacred city of Islam and it is located in the Hijaz Region of Saudi Arabia, 360 km north of Mecca. The Prophet Muhammad began his mission in Mecca in the year 609. After 13 years in Mecca he moved to Medina in order to escape the escalating hostility by the polytheists. The people of Medina welcomed him and presented him with land to build a house and a place of prayer, a mosque. After his death, he was buried in his house which was adjacent to the mosque. In subsequent years due to extension of the mosque his place of burial became enclosed in the mosque. The mosque is now know as 'Masjid-un-Nabi' or the Mosque of the Prophet.

Ayesha Dost took this picture of the Masjid-un-Nabi and other pieces to Mumbai, India, and a number of people embroidered them in traditional Indian stitches. Master craftsmen, whose families have been embroiderers for generations, teach young boys to embroider and this piece will have been done by several young lads at the same time, all working while seated in a circle.

Leeds in Bloom - Harewood Estate

It's snowing again in Leeds today, though it looks wet enough not to last. This piece of embroidery was hand and machine stitched on printed fabric by Janet Taylor and comes from a photograph taken on the Harewood Estate.







Needle weaving using a wire framework was the technique used to embroidery these leaves. Those above made by Margaret Foxcroft, and those below by Muriel Gabbitas

Education - Leeds Civic Trust

Leeds Civic Trust was founded in 1965 and is an independent, non political, voluntary organisation made up of people who live or work in Leeds and are keen to promote its improvement.

The Director of the Trust, Dr Kevin Grady is giving a series of "Leeds in Your Lunch-Hour" talks each Wednesday in February. I apologise for not mentioning these before but there's still time to get to next week's at Holy Trinity Church, on the subject of Lost C18 & C19 Churches and Chapels in the City Centre.

Minnie Woodward spent 62 hours hand stitching this piece on printed fabric.