For this year’s annual Heritage Open Day event, we’re making it a “Her”-itage Open Day, with the spotlight on the women designers, often unsung or underexposed, whose beautiful and inspiring work is in Bradford Cathedral. This includes a Morris & Co. altar frontal believed to have been worked on by William Morris' daughter, May Morris.
Alongisde the Morris & Co. piece, will be displaying works by the renowned Bradfordian embroiderer Louisa Pesel, an altar frontal designed by the prestigious Leek Embriodery Society, contemporary textiles by Polly Meynell, and a number of other female- led textile delights.
We will also be shining a light on the stained glass artist Moira Forsyth, whose works in Bradford Cathedral are not usually on display.
There will be a self-guided tour available, as well as a general guided tour and a specialist guided tour relating to the female designers.
Alongside these there will be children's activities, refreshments at the Pop-Up Café and a talk by Helen Elletson from the William Morris Society about May Morris.
Tours and Talks
12:15pm- Guided Tour
A traditional tour of the building, its history and its heritage, unconnected to our theme.
12:15pm- Heritage Open Day Tour
A specialist tour where we will provide more information about each example of female- led design or creativity.
1pm- Talk: ‘A Remarkable Woman’: The Extraordinary Life and Career of May Morris (Helen Mary Elletson)
Overshadowed for many years by her more famous father, May Morris is now beginning to gain the recognition she deserves as being an incredibly talented craftswoman in her own right. Teacher, lecturer, editor, jeweller and designer, May was accomplished in a wide range of crafts, but it is her work as an embroiderer that is considered to be her greatest achievement. May’s knowledge of needlework, her talent for designing and her brilliance with the needle led to raising the status of embroidery to fine art. This talk will cover May’s life and work, with a focus on her beautiful designs and completed embroideries, demonstrating why May should be regarded as one of the most significant artists of the Arts and Crafts Movement.
2:15pm- Guided Tour
A traditional tour of the building, its history and its heritage, unconnected to our theme.
2:15pm- Heritage Open Day Tour
A specialist tour where we will provide more information about each example of female- led design or creativity.
