Blandford Forum is well known for its Georgian Townscape, shaped by the dramatic fire of 1731. Its earlier history is less well known, although it is clearly etched into the town layout in the form of the Burgage plot outlines which still track the dwellings in the main streets, but most of the early records were lost in the devastating fire.
Since 2021, a group of women has been delving into this period of Blandford’s history, using the traditional skill of embroidery to create a piece of large-scale Community Art. Inspired by the Bayeux Tapestry, their work explores the role of women in Medieval society against the background of the River Stour and the local settlements as they existed in the Middle Ages. The River is represented as the central lifeforce in the development and position of communities and activities during the period 1250 CE to 1500 CE, extending right up to the present day. This “map” forms the background to over 120 individual small embroideries illustrating different aspects of women’s lives in the Stour Valley, including common plants which Medieval women would have used, and animals which would have existed in the local area.
The creation of the Sampler has led the group to research numerous and diverse areas, from knowledge of indigenous plants and the simple tasks of living, to the presence of Royalty and the use of eels as currency. The group is enthusiastic and driven and the quality of the work is amazing, especially considering that many members have never embroidered before, or have not done so since early childhood. It is also being brought right up to date by the precision cross stitch of one member who has created a counted cross-stitch QR code to link with this web page.
