55/782

This is a heart shaped pin cushion with wooden faces and red plush for the pins. On the front is a view of St. Mary’s Church, Reading, and the owner’s initials, 'BES' are scratched on the back.

pin cushion: wood; textile

MERL ‘Associated information’ form – ‘Age: original cannot be later than 1918 or 1919, when owner died. Probably not later than about 1914, about which date original owner left Berkshire. // Who made it and where?: … // Who used it and where?: Miss Beatrice E. Stevens (see further notes on accompanying sheet re. needle-case [55/783]). Her initials are scratched on the back of the pincushion. How was it used: … ’, MERL ‘Associated information’ form (55/782) – ‘Age: Presumably this case & its “twin” were bought & given to the two sisters during the period 1890–1910. // Who made it and where?: … // Who used it and where?: Miss Beatrice E. Stevens, who spent her childhood in or near Newbury, Berkshire, & left there about 1914, to live near Minehead, Somerset. She died in the influenza pandemic of 1918–19, while serving with the French Red Cross in Europe. A case exactly like this, but of a different colour, belonged to one of her sisters, Miss Edith J. Stevens, who died aged about 76 in December 1954 at Holme Lodge, Harrietsham, Kent. It was in bade condition, so was destroyed after her death.’

1875 - 1914