Thank you, Amanda, for this reminder of the 40th anniversary of the
Nottinghamshire Bobbin Lace Society.
My mission in writing about Lace is to be sure the history of women engaged
in the textile arts and industry are not forgotten.
In 2001, I made a solo visit to Nottingham, staying 2 nights. What lovely
memories. Angela Thompson, the author and a friend, had provided a rough
outline of what must be seen along a route from Edinburgh to her home in
England. (This was a grand trip in which I'd already spent 2 weeks in
Scotland studying embroidery, visited friends met via Arachne, etc.) In the
process, I had visited every used book dealer possible, and shipped books
home.
Many were out-of-print, and were exciting finds.
Nottingham! I had tried to connect with a lacemaker who corresponded on
Arachne, but was not successful. Most memorable to me was a series of very
old small houses linked together to form a museum (up on a hill near the
hotel) full of vignette displays of life long ago. The costumes and
furnishings were charming. The settings rather dark, as they would have been
before electricity. A cozy museum exhibit, with which I vaguely remember
Jeffrey Hopewell was associated. He had written the Shire booklet Pillow
Lace
and Bobbins in 1984. I remember reading this museum has since been
demolished - and the collections sent to another Nottingham museum.
Alas, I did not find much of interest in 2001 at Castle Museum, and
thought it impersonal. A search today for a Castle Museum lace collection
turned
up no lace being exhibited, and no photos to view. Could this be so? I
searched for Lace at Castle Museum in Nottingham; also for the Museum's
Mission. No Lace in the largest museum in The City of Lace Not even a
panel of curtain lace? Do they need someone to write about their lace
holdings for the internet? If there is no permanent lace display at this
government-financed museum, Nottingham Lace needs a 21st century champion - a
knightess in shining armor - armor that is over-draped in lace - perhaps to
ride a fine horse through the city, up steps to government building
entrances, and right into government offices!
History: Knights gathered in Nottingham before setting out on the
Crusades, in the Medieval period.
The other place enjoyed was The Museum of Nottingham Lace in The Lace
Market. There was a bobbin lace maker demonstrating in the window. I was the
only visitor, and so we had a pleasant talk. In the sales area I purchased
7 little books (the size of Shire books) about Nottingham and the Lace
industry, which are kept in my library with some flat round disk bobbins,
threads, and other ephemera they were selling. I also purchased the large
book
Nottingham Lace 1760s - 1950s by Sheila Mason that later was lent to
Devon and thus made a visit by Mason to the lace collection at The
Metropolitan Museum go more smoothly. That visit was about The Battle of
Britain Lace
depicting scenes of WW 2. This famous lace was made in Nottingham. Is
there an exhibit about it anywhere?
By far, most important to this year's celebration is a spiral-bound book,
An Outline History by the Nottinghamshire Bobbin Lace Society to celebrate
their 25th anniversary. Since I may not be here in another 10 years to
write about them on their 50th, I think it important to highlight now. A
dozen years ago I wrote to Arachne that this was wonderful documentation of a
slice of local lace history.
Will there be an update of this book published in 2015? In 2025?
Enjoyed the Face Book presentation, Amanda.
Jeri Ames in Maine USA
Lace and Embroidery Resource Center
In a message dated 8/3/2015 5:11:30 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
amanda.j.richa...@btinternet.com writes:
Just a reminder that NBLS (Nottinghamshire Bobbin Lace Society) is
celebrating their 40th anniversary this year with an exhibition of lace.
It runs from 11th - 15th August (next week) and is in Nottingham City
centre, right next to the Nottingham Trent University Tram stop. Entry is
free and there will be a Coffee bar for refreshments.
Full details can be found on their web page and also their Facebook page
(you do not need to be a Facebook member to view this)
http://www.revill.force9.co.uk/nbls/
https://www.facebook.com/laceinthecityoflace
Do come if you can, I will be there on Tuesday and Thursday afternoon
stewarding. Amanda, Nottingham
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