ERDINGTON COMMUNITY TAPESTRY
The tapestries on show in the library were made in the early 1990's inspired by an original idea by Geoff Bateson then Adult Education Co-ordinator for Erdington.
To begin with the idea was to use the skills of local people to create a single large panel which would trace the transformation of an almost forgotten Warwickshire village to an industrial suburb of England's second city. After a series of meetings it was decided that seperate panels would be created depicting various aspects of Erdington, past and present.
In the Autumn of 1990 an adult education class was set up at the Osborne Road centre led by tutor Jean Brierly and students were assisted in making tapestries which took their inspiration from a broad range of subjects and themes including:
Buildings - Erdington Hall, Rookery House, Pipe Manor.
Churches - Erdington Methodist Church, Six Ways Baptist Church.
Public Houses - The Green Man (now The Lad in the Lane), The Old Roebuck Inn.
Transport - The No2 Tram which ran along the High Street, a horse drawn bus.
Famous incidents - The mysterious murder of Mary Ashford and a hayrick fire which took place at the end of the 19th century.
Personalities of Erdington - Unsung Heroes - George the Verger, Fred the Postman, Jack the Milkman.
Industry - Local gas appliance manufacturer Valor, fighter planes built at Castle Vale (now Jaguar cars).
Miscellaneous - The Erdington Coat of Arms, a map of rural Erdington and panels depicting soldiers from the Warwickshire regiment.
On completion the tapestries were taken to Josiah Mason College and framed by Design & Technology students. In July 1995 the work was exhibited at Rookery House in an event opened by Robin Corbett MP.
After remaining in storage for some time the tapestries are now on show again and Erdington Library is pleased to host this exhibition of the work of local people which celebrates our town.
See pics below.
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