On the evening of January 3, 1831, Thomas Ashton, a 24-year-old mill manager from Hyde, Greater Manchester, was fatally shot while out walking from his residence at Pole Bank to Apethorn Mill. This act of violence occurred during a period of significant social and economic upheaval in England, marked by the Industrial Revolution and the… Read More the murder of thomas ashton: a tragic chapter in industrial england
Natural dyeing with plants and kitchen scraps offers a sustainable method to colour textiles, producing unique earthy hues. Combining dyeing with stencils or block printing enhances creativity and personalisation while embracing sustainable practices. This approach discourages harsh chemicals, making it ideal for customisable textile art and mindful creative expression.… Read More Recipes For Natural Dyeing & Fabric Printing
The history of Greater Manchester is layered and complex, but one often-overlooked aspect of its administrative past is the Salford Hundred — a term that once defined a vast and influential region in south-east Lancashire, long before the modern city boundaries we know today. What Was a ‘Hundred’? In medieval England, a hundred was an… Read More the salford hundred: a forgotten division of northern england
Innovators in sustainable textiles are turning agricultural waste into wearable solutions. Using wheat straw, once considered an unusable by-product, they’ve developed low-impact fibres through chemical-free, mechanical processing methods. Early clothing prototypes demonstrate the potential for circular fashion — with reduced environmental footprints and thoughtful reuse of natural resources. Emerging projects are pushing this forward, exploring scalability and addressing challenges such as allergen sensitivity and widespread adoption.… Read More from grain to garment: harnessing wheat straw for sustainable fabric
When we think of the suffragette movement, we often picture marches, protests, and prison hunger strikes. But behind the headlines was a hidden world of secret operations, coded messages, and daring escapes. The suffragettes were not just campaigners — they were masters of subterfuge. Their underground tactics rival any spy novel, complete with disguises, safe… Read More suffragette subterfuge: disguises, decoys & daring espcapes
This image was found on the Past Tense blog’s “suffragettes” page, The original image source is unknown. It offers a rich archive of posts exploring radical moments in women’s suffrage history — especially the militant actions of the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU). Notable Entry: “Today in London Smashing History, 1912 Other Entries: It’s… Read More when glass became a weapon: the window-smashing campaign of 1912
Textiles are more than just practical objects—they are sensory, symbolic, and deeply personal. Across cultures and centuries, cloth has served not only to clothe the body but also to comfort the soul. From the stitched stories of traditional quilts to medicinal fabric treatments used in ancient practices, textiles have long been tools of healing and… Read More threaded with meaning: how textiles have been used for memory and healing through history
During the height of the suffragette movement in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, poetry played a vital—though often underappreciated—role in both articulating protest and nurturing solidarity. While much attention is given to marches, arrests, and political speeches, the era was also rich with verse: lyrical, angry, hopeful, and deeply personal. Poetry was not… Read More voices of defiance: poetry in the suffragette movement
This post is inspired by the research and reflections of Denise Jones, as featured in “A Suffragette Detective Story” on Selvedge Magazine’s website. Her work continues to illuminate the legacy of textile protest with clarity and compassion. A Mended Resistance Fig 1: Cissie Wilcox, an embroidered panel (December, 1911). All images © Museum of London.… Read More hidden protest: suffragette embroidery in holloway prison
This current project, Silent Protest, is something I’ve only recently begun developing — not just creatively, but personally. For a long time, I wasn’t making any work. Life threw some difficult things my way, and those experiences took a serious toll on my mental health and wellbeing. The silence wasn’t just in the art —… Read More silent protest: a work in progress
Rachel Bakewell 