Our Assistant Education Officer, Emma Breadon, who has been hand spinning with us for nearly 30 years, recently travelled to Kew Palace in London to aid with the installation of a spinning wheel that belonged to Mary, Marchioness of Buckingham, a former vicereine of Ireland.
Emma hand hackled and dressed Irish flax, and then hand spun the fibres onto the beautiful and delicate wheel, the gift of Queen Charlotte, which dates from around the 1780s. She then gave a ‘yarn’ of a different nature, discussing the various linen processes as well as the folklore and stories behind spinning wheels.
Thank you Historic Royal Palaces for reaching out to us. We’re sure that your visitors will love this wonderful addition to the collection on display at Kew Palace!