Just before the Red House Museum closed for lockdown in March, we took in a new acquisition to the collection: a banner hand embroidered by members of the Mudeford Townwomen's Guild, dated 1934. The banner includes a scene of the Priory, the Needles and a salmon, which was once caught in their thousands on the Avon.
The banner was kindly donated to the museum by David and Penny Simpson. They told us that in 2017:
'My goddaughter, working in Madrid, spotted the guild banner in the back of an antiques shop window. Mudeford rang bells. She got in touch with us and we asked her to buy the banner and forward it to us from Spain, which she kindly did. Subsequently we have tried to find out about the banner's history and travels but with no success. You may well be more successful.'
If you think you can help us discover how the banner made its way to Spain, or have any connection to the Mudeford Townwomen's Guild, please do get in touch by email redhouse.museum@hampshireculturaltrust.org.uk.
The banner is currently in storage and as soon as it's possible, we will be handing it over to our conservation team based in Winchester. Following this, the banner will be put on display in the Red House Museum's costume gallery together with other recent acquisitions.
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