Budleigh Past and Present

      Annie Whittaker More than sixty years after she was evacuated to Budleigh Salterton during WW2,  Marilyn Reynolds had vivid  childhood memories of that  most traditional East Devon  home industry: lace.  As a six-year-old wartime  evacuee in Budleigh Salterton, she recalled how, ‘o nce a week, the Honiton lace-making ladies would climb aboard a bus and, sitting with  t heir huge pillows propped on their knees, set off for the charming village of Otterton to pursue their craft.’ The chances are that Budleigh’s wartime lacemakers so vividly remembered by Marilyn Reynolds were on their way by bus to be supervised by one of East Devon’s truly legendary lace teachers, still spoken of with awe by today’s lace experts.   Fairlynch Museum volunteer Sue Morgan explains the finer points of lacemaking to members of a Probus group in October 2017 Fairlynch’s resident lace curator Sue Morgan writes: ‘Mrs Annie Whittaker, n ...

  Expert lacemaker Sue Morga n, seen above, will be demonstrating the art of lacemaking to visitors at Fairlynch Museum in Budleigh Salterton during the month of August. Showing off the centuries-old skill which has made   East Devon famous, she can be seen at work on intricate pieces of delicate lace which never fail to impress visitors.    “People are fascinated when they see me at work,” says Sue, who has been making lace for over 30 years. “They’re taken aback at first, and surprised that the craft is still alive. I’m always happy to answer questions about it.” Sue will be demonstrating her skill on Fri 7, 14, 21 and Mon 31 August in the Lace section of Fairlynch Museum, between 2.00 and 4.30 pm. Admission is free.    

  Fairlynch Museum volunteer Sue Morgan started making lace in 1984.  The Museum is most grateful for the lacemaking demonstrations that she has given on Friday afternoons during August and during half-term.  We asked her some questions. What skills does one need?  They say patience, but really the main thing is enjoyment. See how you get on. One visitor who came to watch said she would never be able to do it but when she started on a pillow here at the Museum she found that she could. Sometimes it just clicks. Concentration is important of course. Are you a member of a lacemaker’s association? Yes. The Lace Guild and also the International Bobbin and Needlace Organisation (OIDFA) which covers the world. There are still some countries where lace is produced on a commercial basis - Romania and Malta - to name a couple. But here in the UK, and in the USA, lacemaking is done for pleasure, as a hobby. How have visitors responded to your...

Friends of Fairlynch and many other supporters of the Museum enjoyed the opportunity of seeing the new season’s displays during our evening opening on 3 April.     Many local Councillors attended the event. Left to right are Cllrs Alan Dent and Caz Sismore-Hunt, together with Alan Tilbury (President of Budleigh Salterton Chamber of Commerce). The theme of the 2014 Costume Exhibition is ‘Fashion in the 1920s’, illustrated by this display of a dress shop interior.      Included in the Lace Room display are items made by a former Fairlynch lacemaker, recently donated to the Museum by her niece who lives in the USA. Also in the Costume Room is a display of dolls and toys entitled  ‘Hidden Treasures.’   L-r: Lynn Cook, Bernard Hadley, Christine Bailey, Margaret Williams and Martyn Brown. L-r. Iris Ansell, Laurence Scullion and Dr James Scullion. Previ...

Georgina Beare holds the wedding bouquet made by her aunt, Budleigh Salterton lacemaker Winifred Vincent  We’ve all heard of Honiton lace. But of course it wasn’t all made in Honiton. The term was used to describe a craft which became famous due to the ornate sprigs and complex patterns which were created separately and then sewn into the part of the lace piece known as net or grounds. In past centuries many women in East Devon villages like Otterton and East Budleigh found that lacemaking provided an important source of income. By 1841 at least 240 of them in Otterton were engaged in the delicate work.   A Mr and Mrs Lawrence opened a lace shop in Otterton in 1823, and another later in Sidmouth. By the end of the 19th century there were 230 lacemakers in East Budleigh alone. For many people both in Britain and in America lacemaking continues to be a fascinating hobby. A locally made piece has now found its way back across the Atla...

    Our resident lacemaker Sue Morgan needs all her concentration — and plenty of light — to focus on her task.         But she’s more than happy to explain the finer points of her craft to visitors like Elizabeth Bloxham from Wimborne Minster in Dorset . Lace demonstrations will continue at Fairlynch on Friday afternoons in August.

Time for a coffee and biscuits on arrival for the Devonshire Association visitors, greeted by Friend of Fairlynch Hazel Harland, right.     Fairlynch Museum hosted a visit by members of the Devonshire Association’s East Devon branch on Thursday 11 July. Among its many activities the Association regularly organises all-day excursions to the county’s towns to give members an insight into the history and particular features of a community. This was the first organised visit by DA members to Budleigh Salterton. St Peter’s Church and the long-established Croquet Club as well as the Museum were included on the itinerary.    The visitors were shown various areas of the Museum by volunteers Iris Ansell, Sue Morgan and Margaret Williams.  Museum Secretary Michael Downes told them something of the life and career of Henry Carter FRS, the Victorian physician, geologist and marine sponge expert who himself was a member of the Devonshire Association, ...

  Fairlynch is losing one of its volunteers who helped make a popular Friday afternoon attraction at the Museum with the retirement of resident lacemaker Margaret Leese.   Exmouth resident Margaret delighted and intrigued hundreds of visitors to the Museum with the demonstration of her intricate and beautiful work.   “Lacemaking was very much a traditional cottage industry in this part of Devon , so I am sorry not to be continuing at Fairlynch,” she said. “It has been a thoroughly enjoyable experience to be part of the Museum’s lace team in such a special way.”   Originally from Cornwall , Margaret first started lacemaking over 25 years ago when she saw the skill being demonstrated at Ottery St Mary. “I hadn’t been in the area all that long but I thought that looks quite exciting and challenging as a hobby,” she recalled.   Various pieces of Margaret’s work are on show at Fairlynch, including a lace version of the Museum’s door...

Lace-lovers who have admired Fairlynch Museum 's collection may like to know about a forthcoming event which will have particular appeal for them. 'Mother's Story' is a unique exhibition of lace and ceramic figures which takes place from Thursday 5 July to Sunday 8 July 2012 in Broadclyst Parish Church , near Exeter . The exhibition will be open from 10.30 am - 3.30 pm daily, except for Sunday (11.00 am - 6.00 pm). There will be talks and lacemaking demonstrations, and lunches and cream teas will be available. The event is in aid of Clyst Mission Community and Clyst Caring. For group bookings and enquiries contact Miriam Gent on 01392 467288.

Did you like the photo at http://www.devonmuseums.net/Labours-laced-with-laughter/Latest-News/1/ of our two lace enthusiasts Sue Morgan and Margaret Williams? If so pop along to the Museum on a Friday afternoon. This is traditionally the time when lacemaker Margaret Leese, from Exmouth, pictured above, is at Fairlynch together with Pat Lorton, from Budleigh.   Demonstrating the centuries-old skill which has made East Devon famous, the pair can be seen at work on intricate pieces of delicate work which never fail to impress visitors.   Above is a copy of the Fairlynch door knocker in Honiton lace by Margaret Leese. This year the Lace Guild is holding its Annual Convention at Exeter Racecourse from 13 to 15 April. Its members will be most welcome if they feel like making a short hop to Budleigh to admire Fairlynch's lace collection. Margaret Williams gives a preview: "As you enter the Lace Room the first case ...