By Harry Mottram: A unique textile interpretation of the Axbridge Heritage Trail is to go on display in the town’s parish church. The installation of the artwork as a permanent fixture will take place on Saturday 7th June, 2025, in St John the Baptist Church in the town at 5.30pm for 6pm.
A heritage trail created in 2022 of the community’s period properties, homes and public buildings has been reflected in the textile wall hanging depicted with needle and thread, wool, cotton and felt. The various architectural aspects of Axbridge that include the town hall, the museum and even the former police station are shown in this unusual and intricate design.
The driving force behind the project Margaret Cowie said: “There’s a tradition in the town to depict in textiles the town’s long history such as the tapestries in the town hall showing scenes from the pageant. As a group of nine women – some hadn’t done needle work since school – we portrayed each of the buildings on the trail giving each a different and personal and individual interpretation in textiles. The result is like a map of the town laid out with textual graphic images of King John’s Hunting Lodge, the church and the old chemist shop amongst others. The wall hanging is two metres by one metre, and we have had it professionally mounted in a fine display case so it can be installed in the heritage hub in the church.”
The unveiling will take place by the Reverend Alistair Foster of Axbridge in the Grade 1 listed church that dates to the 13th century in a ceremony in front of assembled dignitaries. St John the Baptist Church is supported by the Friends of the church as it is not only a place of worship and celebration but also an important centre of the town’s social history. The Friends have helped to raise funds to restore and preserve much of the interior and its fabric to allow the public and visitors to understand its role in the town’s past and present making the location and unveiling of the textile wall hanging appropriate for residents and visitors to appreciate.
For more on the Heritage Trail visit https://www.axbridgeheritagetrails.com/
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