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Florence Fletcher (Maker)

This white wholecloth quilted bedcover is made of linen. It is quilted with floral and geometric designs in running stitch. It was made in the 1950s in County Durham for the MERL collection.

1 bedcover: linen

MERL 'Handwritten catalogue' form – 'BEDCOVER (QUILT) // North Country Quilt - made by [...] of Co. Durham. // Stitched linen quilt - made in 1950s.', Pre-MERL list / description – 'Rural Industries Bureau // Linen quilt made by [...] of County Durham. // From [...] Stroud, Glos.', Letter, Quilting Consultant, Rural Industries Bureau to MERL, 13 June 1961 – 'This Bureau has a sum of money, the balance of a grant made by the Pilgrim Trust before the war to help the work we were then doing for quilting industry of South Wales and Northern England. Since the war quilting has become almost extinct as an industry and the few quilters who still work for orders have all the work they need. We have therefore been seeking ways of using this balance and the Victoria and Albert Museum has accepted two quilts for their collection. Miss Muriel Rose of the British Council has suggested that you might like to have two quilts - a Welsh and a North Country one. // If so, I should be very glad to get them made for you. I expect you know the work. We did lend two quilts for an exhibition which you held in 1958. I fear that the really traditional quilts may soon be unobtainable because there are so few good quilters still at work and most of them are elderly. If you would like the quilts it would be advisable for us to meet to discuss size, colour, etc. and I could probably come over to Reading, unless you are likely to be coming in this direction.', Letter, MERL to Quilting Consultant, Rural Industries Bureau, 15 June 1961 - 'I am most grateful to you for writing about the quilts. We should very much like to acquire two for our collection. [...] [insert] Phoned [...] 31.7.61 Arranged for 2 single bed size quilts. Welsh one in cotton poplin (white). North Country one in natural coloured fine linen. MF [end insert]', Letter, Quilting Consultant, Rural Industries Bureau to MERL, 2 April 1962 – 'I am sending to you today by registered post the North Country quilt made by [...] of County Durham. The linen is a bit stiff and the quilt will look rather flat when it comes out of the parcel. To get the best effect the quilt should be hung up, or laid, loosely folded, in a warm place; after some hours the padding will fluff up. // The Welsh quilt is promised for soon after Easter. // I am sorry that it has taken so long to get these quilts made for you, but there are now so few traditional quilters who will work for orders that they usually have a lot of work on hand and each order has to wait its turn.'

Durham [county]

1950 - 1959

Quilt, Bedcover

Stitched, Quilted