Tricia Wright and her friend Sally Farmer formed a sewing group in 2009 and it immediately attracted 12 keen recruits. Following a trip to the Malvern and Exeter Quilt Show, they were inspired to make a wall hanging depicting the village of Wootton Courtenay. Working from a very old village map, an 8ft x 10ft plan was drawn out on calico. This showed the roads, fields, brooks, pathways, farms and the sites of some of the houses. The map was then carefully quilted as a base on which to start.
The group then gradually added more detail and worked individually on the larger scale appliqués of the houses. Finally, the work was sewed together, interfaced and lined. The size and weight of the work meant that Joe Roake was asked to design and make a bespoke hanging system so that the wall hanging could be permanently displayed in the hall. The needlework took four years to complete.
The wall hanging was unveiled in May 2015 at the Annual Parish Meeting by George Burnell, a lifelong resident of Wootton Courtenay. Trish Wright, the originator of the project introduced the work to a packed hall of over 80 villagers. She said, “After nearly four years of hard but enjoyable work, it is a marvellous feeling to hand over a beautiful interpretation of the vital life of Wootton Courtenay as it is today. Hopefully future generations will view it and will be transported back to the village as it is now.”
The Creators
- Trish Wright
- Sally Farmer
- Jane Barbieri
- Ros Griffin
- Maggie Chaffey
- Janet West
- Christine Payne
- Shelley Cartman
- Hilary Gormley
- Valerie Clapham
- Angie Rush
- Joe Roake (Wall mounting and lighting)
Wootton Courtenay 