AN EMBROIDERED hanging measuring more than 10 metres in length which celebrates Prescot's Shakespearian links has been named joint runner-up in a national heritage competition.
The decorated material was produced following hundreds of hours of careful research by 45 community curators.
Earlier this year, Knowsley Council, entered the competition run by The National Lottery Heritage Fund which celebrated the innovative ways projects have acknowledged their funding.
The council’s Culture Team had secured £215,000 of funding from the Heritage Fund, made possible by National Lottery players, to deliver a heritage trail of collaborative artworks and displays at the award-winning Shakespeare North Playhouse.
The Heritage Fund has announced that the embroidered hanging produced as part of the project was the joint runner-up in this national contest.
What does the embroidery include?
The embroidery measures more than 10 metres long, made of 42 unique linen panels each designed and hand stitched by members of the community.
Each image represents a person, place or theme illustrating Prescot’s Elizabethan heritage and connections to William Shakespeare via the Earls of Derby.
The final panels of the tapestry are of Shakespeare himself alongside the stamp acknowledging the support provided by the Heritage Fund.
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The project was developed by 45 Community Curators who undertook 900 hours of research into Knowsley’s connections to Shakespeare.
They uncovered 17th Century Court roll documents detailing Prescot’s original Elizabethan playhouse which stood close to the location of the Flat Iron building on Eccleston Street, and highlighted the town’s longstanding tradition of being a place to socialise and be entertained.
The judges appreciated the effort that had gone into recreating the stamp in embroidery and the impact of the final display.
The tapestry is on display in the Shakespeare North Playhouse in Prescot town centre, hanging almost the full height of the atrium in the café, and can also be viewed from the upper floors.
'A testament to hard work and dedication'
Cllr Shelley Powell, Cabinet Member for Communities and Neighbourhoods, said: “I’m delighted that our heritage trail project has been nationally recognised by The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
“Our Community Curators do some amazing work in Prescot and to be runner-up in a national competition is testament to their hard work and dedication.
“Like me, I’m sure they are incredibly proud of what they have achieved. Well done.”
Helen Featherstone, director, England, North at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, added: “It is wonderful news that the Sharing Prescot 1597 project and the beautiful tapestry on display at Shakespeare North Playhouse has been recognised in our very first acknowledgement competition.
We love to see creative ideas from projects when it comes to acknowledging our funding, and the embroidered hanging will be fantastic inspiration for future recipients. I’m delighted to say that this was one of three projects in the North of England, made possible by National Lottery players, that were awarded ‘runner up’ in the competition.”
About The National Lottery Heritage Fund
As the largest dedicated funder of the UK’s heritage, The National Lottery Heritage Fund’s vision is for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future as set out in our strategic plan, Heritage 2033.
Over the next ten years, the Heritage Fund aims to invest £3.6billion raised for good causes by National Lottery players to bring about benefits for people, places and the natural environment.
The Heritage Fund helps protect, transform and share the things from the past that people care about, from popular museums and historic places, our natural environment and fragile species, to the languages and cultural traditions that celebrate who we are.
The Heritage Fund is passionate about heritage and committed to driving innovation and collaboration to make a positive difference to people’s lives today, while leaving a lasting legacy for future generations to enjoy.
Follow @HeritageFundUK on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and use #NationalLotteryHeritageFund www.heritagefund.org.uk.
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