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The Town Mural
Within the new museum hangs the town mural, a work of art 28ft (8.4m) long by 5ft (1.5m) wide that depicts the history of Bishop’s Stortford from the beginning of time up until 1990. The project was sponsored by Sally Howard-Smith, a former mayor of the town, and supervised by Leila Riddell, a founder of the Embroiderers Guild.
Composed of seven panels it was worked by 142 townspeople, including members of the Embroiderers Guild, the Townswomen’s Guild, members of church groups in Bishop’s Stortford and Little Hallingbury, local school children and many other needle workers who were personal friends of the designer and sponsor. The mural is worked on canvas stitched in fine crewell wool and the buildings and figures, worked individually, were then applied onto the background.
In 1992 the mural went ‘on tour’ to Alexandra Palace in London and Harrogate in Yorkshire, and was selected by Thomasinia Beck (well known art and embroidery historian) as representative of 20th century needlework. In 1997 it was the subject of two articles by Sally Howard-Smith in Needle Arts, the magazine of the Embroiderer Guild of America.
An informative book on how the mural was made, and a key to what is featured, is available from the museum. View detailed images of the mural at: www.bishopsstortford.org/mural.htm
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Bishop’s Stortford Museum |
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After an 18 month closure for refurbishment, the new Bishop’s Stortford Museum and Rhodes Arts Complex was officially opened on Friday 11 November 2005. A plaque to mark the occasion was unveiled by Guest of honour Sir Colin Lucas, warden of the Rhodes Trust from Oxford. Admission to the general public took place 15 November 2005. The museum provides displays and activities for a range of visitors from schools and families to tourists or researchers; there is something for everyone. |
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South Road
Ten new permanent galleries are accompanied by an education room and a spacious temporary exhibition gallery, where it will be possible to view paintings, drawings and sculptures, in-house museum shows using the reserve collection and the Bishop’s Stortford Open Art Exhibition. The permanent galleries on the first and second floors take visitors from imperial Africa to Roman Bishop’s Stortford. Displays of previously unseen objects and photographs open up the town’s history and reveal a past full of hidden treasures.