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Neil Thwaites (Artist), Rosemary J. D. Meakins (Designer)

Cotton tea towel with a design showing examples of Essex straw work. Art work by Neil Thwaites, design by Rosemary Meakins. 1989.
A cotton tea towel with a design in brown showing examples of Essex straw work, including the 'lion and unicorn' corn dolly made by Fred Mizen for the Festival of Britain in 1951, an 'Essex terret' and a 'Marquis of Buckingham' straw hat. It also shows the Essex county arms, Great Bardfield Cottage Museum, and Gosfield Church. The art work was done by Neil Thwaites and the design by Rosemary Meakins. The tea towel was purchased at the 'Heritage of Straw Weekend' in Great Bardfield, Essex, in September 1989.

1 cloth: cotton; good condition

Miscellaneous note, Rosemary Meakins – ‘Essex Heritage Year 1989 // This tea towel was designed for the Heritage of Straw September 1989. It shows the Lion and Unicorn made by Fred Mizen for the Festival of Britain in 1951. This revived an interest in corn-dollies, which were then taught in the Cottage Museum by Albert Ruffle of Finchingfield. // In about 1800 the Marquis of Buckingham wore his plaited straw hat to Gosfield Church and encouraged the villagers to plait for the straw hat industry. // The plaiting straw garb is on the Meakins heraldic shield. // Art work: Neil Thwaites // Design: Rosemary J.D. Meakins // Rosemary Meakins’, MERL 'Handwritten accession' form (Institute of Agricultural History) – ‘Recorder: JMB // Date: 8.2.90 // Description: Cotton cloth with design in brown showing Fred Mizen’s Lion & Unicorn, Essex Terret and Marquis of Buckingham straw plaited hat. // Also shown are the Essex County arms, Gt. Bardfield cottage museum and Gosfield church in Essex. // Dimensions: 76 cm x 45 cm // Associated information: Purchased at the Heritage of Straw exhibition in Great Bardfield, Essex. // See also other cloths 86/203–205 Coker collection. // References: …’