Macclesfield Borough Council
Festival will put Local Textile Heritage in the Limelight
By Macclesfield Borough Council
Mar 13, 2008, 09:20

Ivor Williams, new chairman, unveils the Textile Triangle Festival brand

FESTIVAL PUTS LOCAL TEXTILE HERITAGE IN THE LIMELIGHT

Textiles will be at the forefront of celebrations in 2009 with plans for a season of events dedicated to the industry across East Cheshire, the Peak District and North Staffordshire.

The Textile Triangle Festival will feature events and activities in the Borough of Macclesfield and neighbouring textile heritage sites especially from 4-19 July but with a longer lasting programme of events across the whole summer

The details were announced at the 21^st annual general meeting of the Cheshire Peaks & Plains Tourism Association, held at Mottram Hall Hotel this month.

Highlights of the festival so far include:

• A Capesthorne Hall Textile Retreat for four days with renowned conservator Jacqui Hyman;
• A two-day textile craft fair at Quarry Bank Mill, Styal;
• A special exhibition of historic Knutsford May Queen dresses;
• Exhibitions in Leek’s Nicholson Institute on textile print innovator Thomas and Lady Wardle and in local churches on arts and craft textiles in their own collections.
• An exhibition at Congleton Museum;
• Factory tours of Spurcroft’s weavers and tiemakers in Macclesfield;
• Two major exhibitions at Macclesfield Silk Museum on contemporary Embroidery and Wardle the Manufacturer;
• Day schools with leading names in the textile world and a programme of workshops centring on developing textile skills;
• Events at Masson Mills and Cromford Mill in the Derwent Valley World Heritage Site will also be included in the programme.

Macclesfield-based tourism officer Alice Ferguson says: “It’s the first time we’ve celebrated this industry which has proved such an important part of the livelihoods of the people of East Cheshire and the Peak District. We’re also lining up Macclesfield’s first textile-related art competition, guided tours of textile towns and special openings of churches containing historic textiles.”

The Cheshire Peaks & Plains Tourism Association elected a new chairman at its AGM. Ivor Williams of Kerridge End Holiday Cottages has been the deputy chair for the last two years.