Restored tapestry is back on public view (From Knutsford Guardian)

Restored tapestry is back on public view

11:00am Wednesday 19th September 2012 in News By James Wilson

KNUTSFORD’S famous Millennium tapestry is back on public view after almost a year away.

The Guardian teamed up with Knutsford Heritage Centre on King Street in a bid to raise £20,000 to help save the town’s tapestry last September after it was revealed that the woolly bear insect had been feasting on the tapestry’s stitches.

As a result bare patches were appearing on the three panels showing the town’s streets, and the volunteers at the centre on King Street had to act quickly.

The tapestry was put in a deep freeze and treated, and a team of restoration experts, led by Jacqui Hyman, who runs the Textile Restoration Studio in Bowdon, have painstakingly replaced each stitch which was eaten.

Val Bryant from the heritage centre told the Guardian it was brilliant to have the tapestry back.

“I’m absolutely thrilled to bits that it is back,” she said.

“It has been a year doing the whole thing from once we found it to it being back in the new state of the art frame.

“Jacqui has done such a good job and that has made it even more exciting. It looks bigger, it’s clean and it’s wonderful.

“The fundraising still needs to go on and it’s like most things – the cost went up.

“The tapestry belongs to the people of Knutsford, we are the custodians and are looking after it for future generations to enjoy.

“We are still looking for good donations because without the money we have got so far we wouldn’t have been able to do what we have done.”

The Heritage Centre is open on Tuesday to Friday, from 11am to 4pm, and on Sundays from 2pm to 5pm until the end of this month. For more information call the centre on 01565 650506.

Entry to the centre is free.