Sheringham Seascape Embroidery Project

B and I met H&M today at Mannington Gardens.  A charity day was being held for Norfolk Knitters & Stitchers. Norfolk Knitters and Stitchers began in 2008. The group has grown and now there are 2319 knitters, with various groups around the UK and also includes many housebound knitters who work at home.  They knit, crochet and stitch for any bona fide charity, including Hedgehogs sold in aid of the hedgehog rescue appeal, Children's Hospice, teddies for Uganda, baby clothes for a hospital in Gimbi, Ethiopia, hats, gloves, scarves and toys for the Samaritan's Purse Shoebox appeal, sensory muffs and blankets for dementia patients and Care Homes, blankets and hats for the homeless.
 
Mannington Hall is a private home, the moated hall was built c1460 and although the gardens are normally open to the public the house is not, so it was a real treat to see inside today and wander around some of the rooms which were filled with crafts people and some of their fabulous work.
 
I was particularly interested in the ladies who are working on an ambitious embroidery of the Sheringham seafront.  The project started in 2018 when photographs of the Sheringham seafront were taken from a boat, taped together, then the 20 metres of photos were reduced to make a more suitable length of 8 metres.  It was then drawn, enlarged by 50% to enable easier stitching and then re-drawn to give the final length of the work. The drawings were traced onto calico and the embroidery could begin.  The stitches are in the style of John Craske.  John was a retired fisherman who, when unable to go to sea any longer, began making embroideries of boats and sea scenes.  It wasn’t unusual for retired fishermen to take up sewing as they had mended nets and sails throughout their working life and many of the scenes they created date from the 19th century.
 
This embroidery is on-going and stitching is taking place at Sheringham Museum where progress can be viewed by the public.  I asked the lady in the photo how long will it take to complete…but of course I should have anticipated the answer…how long is a piece of string!
 
Also see extra for an overview of this wonderful work.