History of the tapestries

The three large tapestries that hang in the Dining Room at Mount Edgcumbe date from the mid to late 16th century and would have been made in Flanders. The person who commissioned them was probably Sir Richard, 2nd Earl of Mount Edgcumbe.  They depict pastoral scenes, busy and gruesome hunting scenes, castles, vineyards, rivers and many wonderful animals and plants.

The 16th century was the 'Golden Age' of Flemish tapestry production, when highly skilled weavers in numerous workshops created many fine works across what are now Belgium and the Netherlands.

In England large, decorative tapestries were displayed in palaces, castles and grand residences. They served a practical purpose, one of insulation and draft proofing. But such tapestries were also a status symbol as only the most wealthy could afford them and the design tells us something about the owners: The tapestries at Mount Edgcumbe boast of hunting parties on plentiful land as well as suggesting a pastoral ideal in which people go about their days in a beautiful landscape of ample foliage and wildlife. There may be more specific stories within these tapestries that are hinted at yet hard to define, as the set is incomplete.

Project of Restoration

In 2005 Mount Edgcumbe House and Country Park was successful in securing £49,700 from the  Heritage Lottery Your Heritage Fund to restore these three very old and delicate tapestries. The work took around three years and is now complete.

First the tapestries were transported back to Belgium in order to be cleaned in a specialist studio. They then went to the conservation studio in Dorset where, textile conservator, Alison Lister spent hundreds of hours unpicking and stitching, sewing and strengthening. She also removed the original lining and replaced it with a new one of unbleached cotton and added new specially dyed dubloons which are the wide bands ‘framing’ the tapestry. The tapestries look fabulous now with many areas that were once messy and fragile with old repairs stronger and neater.

The remainder of the Heritage Lottery Fund grant was invested in developing an education resource for Primary Schools. Teachers can bring their class to the house for a fun two hour session on the Tudors with the tapestries as the main focus. Included are weaving, role play and a special Tudor tour of the house.