Author: maureenbilbao

Fabrics of the Foundling Hospital

Despite scheduled road closures 22 members managed to meet at Monkland Hall.

Notifications of forthcoming Cheltenham exhibitions were made available.  A repeated request for help in finding a new home for the storage of the exhibition quilt stands was made.  Andy from Crafty UK was running a workshop on 17 September, anyone interested was asked to add their name to the list provided. Additional details would be circulated shortly.

With the aid of a slide show members were treated to a very interesting and informative talk by Mags from The Patchwork Basket at Newent.

Mags explained how the Foundling Hospital had been established by the sea captain Thomas Coram who was appalled at the number of abandoned babies and children left starving and dying on the streets of London.  Not a hospital as we know it today but an establishment offering “hospitality” for the less fortunate.  The charity was set up in 1739 to care for the high number of abandoned babies in London. Infants were accepted by ballot and when they first arrived were baptised and given a new name.  The mothers had the opportunity to reclaim their child in the future, when they were in a better position to take care of them, so they often left a small token with the child to enable future identification.  On arrival at the hospital the babies were sent to the country to a wet nurse until the age of 4 or 5, and then returned to the hospital where the boys and girls were kept segregated in separate wings.  They received a basic education in reading, writing and arithmetic and were often sent into service or to serve an apprenticeship.

The Foundling Hospital closed as a children’s home in the 1950s and was renamed the Thomas Coram Foundation for Children in 1954.

Mags was thanked for an absolutely fascinating talk and slide show and everyone agreed that it made us all realise how lucky we are today.

A bright sunny summer day saw a group of members arriving at the hall, anxious to set up in readiness for the workshop. When everyone was ready, the tutor gathered everyone around and gave clear detailed instructions at each stage to help members achieve the best results for the production of their miniature Log Cabin quilt block.

During the morning members accepted the challenge and worked methodically through the instructions, measuring accurately, stitching a careful quarter inch seam and pressing at each stage in order to produce four miniature log cabin blocks.

After a much needed break for lunch, various layout suggestions were discussed.  Members were then able to join the blocks in their desired pattern. Prior to going home members displayed their efforts and it was interesting to see the various colour schemes used and how each person’s blocks had finished.

The general census was that everyone had enjoyed the workshop and had learned several useful techniques for the future.

This year the Summer Social was held at Monkland Hall.  The evening started with Debbie distributing a quiz which we all puzzled over whilst enjoying the delicious selection of savoury items that members had brought to share.  The surprise of the evening was when the ice cream van arrived and we were treated to a wonderful soft whipped ice-cream which some members enjoyed with a refreshing fruit salad provided by Lisa and Jo, or a selection of other sweet delicacies brought by members.  This was all washed down with a tasty punch made by Sally.

Afterwards we all sat round in a circle to play a game organised by Carol and assisted by Kate.  This caused much laughter and groans of despair as members proceeded to steal quarters of fabric from each other.

The evening eventually drew to a close and it was evident from the contented look on everyone’s face, and expressions of thanks, that the evening had been a resounding success.

Thank you everyone for helping to make this an evening to remember.