FOR almost a century, two historic Midlands Tudor houses believed they were connected by fragments of the same 17th-century tapestry.
Now, that long-held assumption is being unravelled at the National Trust’s Packwood House, near Henley, where an exhibition reveals the true and surprising story behind the fragments.
Common Threads will bring together Packwood House’s Two Women tapestry fragment and Selly Manor Museum’s Achilles fragment, displayed side by side at Packwood for the first time in living memory.
While the two pieces were once thought to belong to a single, larger tapestry, a recent examination into the colour, imagery and weave has confirmed they are not connected.
The revelation came after a visit by the Packwood team to Selly Manor Museum in Bournville last year, prompting fresh investigation into both fragments and their histories.
Emily Greaves, Packwood collections and house manager, said: ‘The two tapestries, although they don’t match, have been a catalyst for a much larger story about the histories of our places. New links between our houses, people and collections have been revealed, leading to fresh and exciting narratives. Working in partnership with the team at Selly Manor Museum has been so enjoyable and following on from their exhibition last year the team are so excited to continue our work together for Packwood’s Common Threads exhibition.”
She added: “The exhibition explores the wider significance of textiles as storytelling objects, while also examining the parallel histories of Packwood House and Selly Manor Museum. Both houses were shaped in the early 20th-century by passionate collectors: Graham Baron Ash at Packwood and Laurence Cadbury at Selly Manor. Both men were born in 1889 into Birmingham industrial families, served in WW1 as chauffeurs, travelled widely, collected with a passion and filled their homes with period furniture and objects.”
Louise Deakin, heritage engagement officer at Bournville Village Trust, which manages Selly Manor Museum, said: “The belief that both tapestries were linked has been perpetuated for almost a century, but it’s simply not true. We now want to explore the histories of these pieces and reveal the truth behind them.
“The Common Threads exhibition highlights the significance of textiles in storytelling and explores the connections between Selly Manor Museum and Packwood House and their collections. We’re delighted to have partnered with Packwood House on this exhibition.”
This exhibition forms part of a wider research project into the lives of the Ash family, primarily Graham Baron Ash, the last private owner of Packwood, and his father, Alfred.
Over the next few years, the team will explore their collecting practices, architectural aspirations and social networks. This research will lead to fresh and exciting new narratives about the early 20th-century history of Packwood.
The Common Threads exhibition runs until 5th April, Monday-Sunday, 11am to 3pm. Entry is included in admission.