By a Thread

This virtual exhibition builds on the temporary exhibition 'By a Thread' held at the museum in Spring 2024 which revealed a wide variety of textiles in the museum's collection. As we have studied the embroideries in more depth, and considered the contexts in which they were made, many questions have arisen which we are currently researching. You will see that the words 'possibly', 'perhaps', 'may' and 'unknown' appear regularly in the text that follows. By putting this exhibition online we hope visitors who view it might be able to help in this research, so if you have any ideas or questions relating to the pieces on show, please get in touch with us.

During the First World War, two million soldiers were injured, a quarter of whom experienced life changing wounds. To aid their recovery, many of these with long-term conditions were trained to make embroidery. This had both a therapeutic effect on recuperation and for a few also an economic value, as unfit for any other work, some retired veterans made needlework to sell. Soldiers on the frontline also acquired embroidery works as souvenirs to bring home for family and sweethearts. Through thirty previously unseen works, this exhibition explores a range of embroidery spanning the late Victorian period through until the Suez Crisis of 1956.

This show is a visual spectacle which will interest those fascinated by the quirkier aspects of well-known history, those who enjoy and engage in embroidery and needlework and others who would like to explore a different aspect of the personal histories of the soldiers of the County regiment who fought through the World Wars.

It was generally understood that providing activities for long-term sick soldiers was beneficial, Embroidery was seen as ideal: it was a quiet activity that could be done anywhere alone or in groups, and it required mental focus to achieve a satisfying result. Find out more >

The museum collection includes a variety of embroidered items which were sent or brought home by soldiers as souvenirs. This Includes the story of Private Albert Randall of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment and his embroidered souvenir from France. Find out more >

Some embroidered items in the museum's collection honour the memory of events in the Regiment's history or the service of individual soldiers. The museum has three pieces in its collection which have been made as memorials to individual soldiers with photographs inserted into the panel.  Find out more >

The museum collection includes a range of embroidered pieces which celebrate the Regiment's indentity. The collection contains many embroidered depictions of an antelope known as Bobby, who is the regimental mascot. It also has a small number of very high quality pieces which have clearly been professionally made, as well as a substantial group of panels embroidered in wool on canvas or cotton.  Find out more >