NB - To avoid disappointment, please be sure you make contact prior to a visit, as some museums only have a few quilts which are not on permanent display and special arrangements for viewing [which will depend of availability of staff] may have to be made.
St. Fagans National History Museum
Formerly known as the Museum of Welsh Life, and situated at St Fagans on the outskirts of Cardiff. A small selection of special quilts is on display in the Textile Gallery. A few ‘working’ quilts can be seen on beds in some of the houses in the castle grounds and a study collection is kept in Llwyn-yr-Eos Farmhouse, which can be viewed by appointment only. Contact the curator of textiles, Elen Philips.
St Fagans Castle, Cardiff, CF5 6XB
Tel 029 2057 3500
www.nmgw.ac.uk
The Quilt Association
Holds a regular exhibition each summer of antique and modern quilts. This summer’s theme is ‘The Double 07 Show’. Open from 16th July – 15th Sept. 11am. – 5pm daily, except Sundays. Admission: £3 [concessions £2.50]
List of workshops available on website.
If you wish to see some of the Quilt Association’s own collection at other times of the year please contact Doreen Gough: e-mail quilts@quilt.org.uk
Minerva Arts Centre, Llanidloes, Powys SY18 6BY.
Tel 01686 413467/412278
www.quilt.org.uk
Jen Jones Welsh Quilts
Jen’s collection is housed here at her antique shop and in her home –you will get a warm welcome and a veritable feast of quilts.
Pontbrenddu, Llanybydder, Ceredigion, SA40 9UJ
Tel 01570 480610
www.jen-jones.com
Ceredigion Museum
Terrace Road, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion SY23 2AQ
Tel. 01970 633088
www.museum.ceredigion.gov.uk
Occasional exhibitions are held but no quilts are on permanent display.
Some quilts went to Vermont USA in 2006, and this travelling exhibition is now available for hire. Contact Gwenllian Ashley: 01970 633 086
Latest news - The exhibition will be on show in Hereford in 2008 from 28th June – 10th Sept. For further details contact Gwenllian Ashley as above.
Carmarthen County Museum
Abergwili, Carmarthenshire SA 31 2JG
Tel. 01267 228696
www.carmarthenshire.gov.uk/museum
Very few quilts and access is for research only.
Brecon Museum and Art Gallery
Captain’s Walk, Brecon, Powys LD37 7DW
Tel. 01874 624121
www.powys.gov.uk/Breconmuseum
A small collection not on permanent display, but available on request.
The Cynon Valley Museum and Gallery
Depot Road, Aberdare, Mid Glamorgan CF44 8DL
Tel. 01685 886729
www.cvmg.gov.uk
The small collection is not on permanent display, but available on request.
Contact Belinda Bajai.
National Woollen Museum
Dre-fach Felindre, Llandysul, Carmarthenshire SA44 5UP Picture if on web
Tel. 01559 370929
www.nmgw.ac.uk
Recently refurbished, this museum is well worth a visit. There are only 2 quilts to be seen which are on loan from St Fagan’s, but the history of wool production in Wales is fascinating and gives an insight into the making of the traditional Welsh flannel quilts. You can also buy fabric woven in the mill for your own quilt-making.
Useful websites and addresses:
Gathering the Jewels : website for Welsh cultural history with 20,000 images of items in the museums, galleries, libraries and record offices of Wales
http://www.tlysau.org.uk [in Welsh or English] search - textiles
The Quilters; Guild of the British Isles,
Room E113, Dean Clough, Halifax, West Yorkshire, England. HX3 5AX
Tel. 01422 347669
www.quiltersguild.org.uk
Email: info@thequiltersguild.co.uk
The British Quilt Study Group
At Guild website [see above] under ‘activities, specialist groups’
Email: bqsg@quiltersguild.org.uk
The Curator [Rachel Terry] Quilters; Guild Heritage Collection
Room E113, Dean Clough, Halifax, West Yorkshire HX3 5AX
Email: rachel@thequiltersguild.co.uk
The International Quilt Study Centre, University of Lincoln, Nebraska, USA
There are 8 welsh quilts to be seen in the online collection. In addition, they have recently acquired the 1818 Welsh quilt which inspired the ‘Pennsylvannia Amish’ Project, but it is not yet on display.
www.quilt.org