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Textiles: Painting with the Needle

@ Durham Cathedral

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The Collections Gallery, Open Treasure

Textiles have always played an important role in church and domestic life and Durham Cathedral boasts some of the best examples of church needlework from the past 1,100 years. A selection of the finest textiles from the Cathedral’s collection are included in this display.

Highlights include the Anglo-Saxon Dalmatic and 12th-century Peacock Silk from St Cuthbert’s tomb, embroidered fragments from the grave of Bishop William of Calais, and the embroidered Bible of Lady Arabella Stuart, cousin of King James I.

Also on display is the King Charles I Cope, a rare example of 17th-century church needlework, and the Coronation Cope worn by the Bishop of Durham at the coronations of the last four British monarchs.

Contemporary textiles will be explored through the work of the Cathedral Broderers, and visitors can enjoy an exciting programme of talks, demonstrations, workshops and special events.

To complement the exhibition in the Collections Gallery, a piece by Grayson Perry will also be on display in the Monks’ Dormitory. Created for his recent Channel 4 documentary series All Man, the piece explores the concept of masculinity and its place in the modern world.

Tickets: £2.50 – £7.50 available from the Visitor Desk in the Cathedral, the Open Treasure Welcome Desk, and in advance from www.durhamcathedral.co.uk/open-treasure/book

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