The 1919 signature quilt

In 1919 the Women’s Guild raised money for a new ward at the cottage hospital by selling names. Each of 64 households gave a square of dress or shirt cotton, and paid to have a name embroidered in red thread on its back. The front is a patchwork of those squares, checks and plains side by side.

The names include three ropewalk families, the stationmaster, a dog called Biscuit and “A Friend”, who paid twice. The ward opened in 1921. Textiles fade in light, so the quilt spends three years out of four resting flat in the store. We have photographed every square, and the reading room can show you those any time.