The Blue Bow Bedroom Bedspread – Scampston

This exquisite handmade crewelwork bedspread is in immaculate condition. We know that this beautiful bedspread was gifted to Violet Helen as a wedding present when she married Sir William Herbert St Quinton in 1895. It is believed that the bedspread was gifted by her sister-in-law Rebecca, William’s sister. We are unsure whether Rebecca embroidered the bedspread herself or had it commissioned, as such a detailed piece of embroidery would have taken several years to complete. Especially if stitched by just one person.

Violet Helen was the grand daughter of the 1st Lord Feversham of Duncombe Park near Helmsley. There is a stunning portrait of Violet Helen at Scampston Hall in the Boudoir. As well as being invited to view this fabulous bedspread I was also invited to start running embroidery and bear making workshops at Scampston Hall.

The first Jaccobaean crewel embroidery workshop, was scdeduled for the Autumn of 2024. As a special treat, Day 2 of this workshops included a private viewing of the bedspread, followed by tuition in the Boudoir and then a cream tea in the conservatory. For more detail about this workshop …

The bedspreads design and colours compliment the original gorgeous blue wall paper in the South Bow Bedroom. There are 2 main panels and a boarder to the bedspread. The embroidery is hand stitched in wools on a straight weave linen. There are 4 main designs repeated diagonally in alternating pairs. The designs are Jacobean in style of flowers, buds and foliage, typical of the time. The stitches are mostly long and short soft shading with some details stitched in french knots, closed fly and trellis.

At first glance each of the four repeated images looks the same. However, on closer inspection they do vary quite considreably. Thus is typical of hand embroideryies, especially larger projects that were stitched by more than one person.

It is believed the bedspread was rediscovered in a cupboard in an adjacent room, which is now a bathroom, by Lady Caroline Legard when the Hall was being refurbished. Possibly between 1992- 1994. Scampston Hall was let after William Herbert St Quinton died in 1933. This may account for why the bedspread was carefully packed away. The bedspread is laid on the bed in the South Bow Bedroom when the hall is open for public tours and then carefully packed away when the hall is in use, only by the family.

Scampston Hall estate was bought by the St Quinton family towards the end of the 17th century and has remained in the family ever since. Scampston Hall and Estate passed to the Legard family through marriage.

The House was redecorated internally in 1860 and again in 1910. Sir Charles and Lady Legard faced a major task, therefore, in the mid 1990’s as the house had to be re-roofed, re-wired and re-plumbed followed by almost complete redecoration.

The Hall is now in the care of Christopher and Miranda Legard who continue the effort to maintain the property to the highest standards in the hope that it will remain in the family for generations to come.

Jacqueline runs mixed ability small group embroidery workshops, in various venues, at scheduled times throughout the year.