WPM 150 Lunchtime Talk: Painted Fabrics Ltd – Work not Charity

A black and white photo of workers in a screen printing factory around 1935. Six men are working around a long wooden table with metres of material stretched on top of it.

Image Credit: Photo from the Brooks collection courtesy of the family.

Join Hilary Widdowson to explore the history of local luxury textile company, Painted Fabrics Ltd.

With the motto “Work not Charity”, Painted Fabrics Ltd was set up by Annie Bindon Carter with disabled WW1 veterans. The ex-servicemen were employed in painting and printing a varied range of textiles that were then made into clothing and household items for sale by seamstresses who worked at the site. Some of the high-quality merchandise was sold at prestigious outlets and even bought by members of the royal family.

2025 marks the centenary of the official opening of the company by their patron HRH Princess Mary (Viscountess Lascelles). Hilary’s talk will delve into their early days from opening, through to their WW2 connections, their closure and later redevelopment.

Part of a programme of displays, events and activities celebrating 150 years of Weston Park Museum in 2025. Find out more here

Suggested donation £5 – Please donate if you're able and help keep your museums open and available for everyone to enjoy.

Event Info

Where

Weston Park Museum

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Suggested donation £5

Booking recommended

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