THE recent exhibition at Lisburn
Museum of a unique early 18th century Irish linen
cloth, known as the 'Waringstown tablecloth'
provoked much admiration for the craftsmanship
evident in the early days of damask linen hand loom
weaving.
The cloth is owned by Winchester
City Council and was discovered 30 years ago in the
Council's archives.
No-one there had any knowledge of
how the cloth came to be in the possession of the
Council
but Winchester City Museum was
kind enough to lend it to Lisburn Museum which it
regarded as a fitting place to display such a
treasure.
The tablecloth, which is thought
to have been woven on a draw loom about 1730, has an
elaborate woven design which includes pictures of
lords and ladies in the coronation procession of
George II and a map of the city of London together
with the woven words ' WRAUGHT IN WARRINGSTOWN'. |
THE series of Christmas films
shown at Lisburn Museum in the run up to the Festive
Season proved a major success.
Each screening drew a near
capacity audience and Santa brought his own special
magic every time.
All proceeds from the ticket
sales are being donated to 'Make a Wish', the
Mayor's special charity for his year in office.
This grants magical wishes for
children and young people fighting life-threatening
illnesses. The December competition question was
'Which of the Christmas films shown in the Museum
did you like best and why?'
The winner of the �25 gift voucher for the Museum
Shop was Mrs Libby Chapman of Magheralin who chose
'It's a wonderful Life' because 'it is a hopeful
film with a message that every life has worth and
impacts on others'. |