tapestry
Unveiling February 2022
The Introductory Banner
A unique tapestry which traces the life of one of Northamptonshire’s most famous historic figures, was unveiled in Higham Ferrers today.
The tapestry honours the Higham Ferrers-born Henry Chichele who became one of the longest serving Archbishops of Canterbury, appointed by his close friend Henry V in the early fifteenth century just before the Battle of Agincourt. It shows scenes from his remarkable life of almost 80 years and celebrates his heritage in Higham.
The tapestry was the brainchild of retired art and design teacher Fay Caddick, who was the driving force behind two big projects.
Her vision called on the skills of a team of six craftswomen who called themselves The Material Girls and who created their fabric and thread work using applique and various embroidery techniques.
The first tapestry ─or mapestry, as it was dubbed ─ features the town’s medieval houses and after initially being on display in the local library, now hangs in the local Henry Chichele Primary School.
“Some people thought that such a tapestry should be on display in a more prominent position, and so the minute we finished the first tapestry, we started on the second, this time to provide a timeline in the life of Henry Chichele,” Fay recalled.
The Material Girls with Revd Michelle
The Material Girls initially planned to hang the tapestry in the library, but when that shut down, The Friends of St Mary’s ─ a registered charity dedicated to the preservation of the Grade 1 listed buildings in the town ─ suggested they hang their work in the Bede House, next to St Mary’s Church.
The Vicar of St Mary’s, Revd Michelle Dalliston, was behind the plan too – ‘The Bede House is the obvious place to display these wonderfully worked panels which tell Archbishop Henry’s amazing story and skilfully interweave fabrics and threads to bring to life both past history and present community'.
The Bede House, which is home to community activities and special events, was founded by Henry Chichele in 1422 for 12 poor men of the parish and a woman attendant. (Bedesmen and a Bedeswoman are still appointed and wear ceremonial cloaks with a red star for civic occasions).
Nine years in the making (two years were “lost” because of Covid lockdowns), the tapestry is made up of four panels and an introductory banner. The first four panels are already on display in the Bede House, and now the introductory banner “The key to the jigsaw that explains what the tapestry is all about,” as Fay describes, was unveiled today. It is especially appropriate as this year sees the 600th Anniversary of the founding of the Bede House, along with Chichele College.
The tapestry is being preserved for posterity behind special Perspex see-through boxes. The first four panels were sponsored by The Friends of St Mary’s, while the banner box has been sponsored by The Friends of St Mary’s as well as from the profits of a local book “Higham Ferrers 1251-1914” by Brenda Lofthouse, Gwen Tobin and Rachel Smyth.
The craftswomen used to meet up for about four hours a week and were so keen on the project that they continued working on their various pieces of the banner at home.
“That was absolutely amazing and demonstrated that they were so happy about what they were doing that they wanted to beaver away on it at home,” Fay said.
A noted calligrapher, Fay has also incorporated calligraphy sewing into the tapestry.
Material Girl Susan Waters got the job of putting in the last stitches on the banner.
“She does the neatest stitches you have ever seen,” Fay said.
Susan in turn paid tribute to Fay, praising her for being “so patient and so inspiring.”
The unveiling ceremony is the first of many celebrations to be held in Higham Ferrers this year to commemorate the 600th anniversary of the foundation of the Bede House where it will be displayed for all to see.
24 February 2022