Railway queen gown among treasured textiles at Greenham open day

Organised by the National Needlework Archive, (NNA) based at Greenham Business Park, textile items passed down through the generations such as household linens, christening and wedding gowns, were taken along, for details to be entered into an archive.
The oldest items which turned up included needlework samplers dated 1836 and a wholecloth quilt, dated 1870 and the NNA members recording the items also provided advice on care and storage.
A pink sequinned railway queen gown dated 1938 was taken along by the daughter of the gown’s owner - who originally wore it in Crewe as a railway queen - a tradition in that area at the time.
NNA director, Linda Connell, said the day proved a success, with the overwheming majority of visitors from the local area:
“We were very pleased with the response,” said Mrs Connell.
The recording day was pilot for a research project with family history societies nationwide.