Taking in all the rich resources Warrington had to offer within the context of its manufacturing history forms one of the new exhibitions currently on at Warrington Museum.
Looking back, in the 17th century Warrington benefited from the growth of Liverpool creating large sailcloths for the shipping industry. In the 18th century Warrington also had a thriving pin-making, file, tool-making, cotton and copper industries. By the 19th century there was also a large soap-making industry.
Wire, steel and textiles have always been at the forefront of Warrington’s local tradition and even though it has diminished drastically over the last hundred years, there are still a plethora of local people who want to celebrate the town’s industrial heritage.
‘Made In Warrington: Steel, Stitch and Soap’ features the work of North West based artist collective, Treadmill, who use their interest in textiles to create a lively exhibition. As such they focus on a range of key materials (metal, cloth, jewellery) which form the basis for a rich display of hand stitching, embroidery and weaving techniques. Fusing mixed media with traditional craft. This interesting exhibition provides a snapshot of a bygone era and once again it is artists who feel inspired by the discovery of old traditions and stories to breathe new life into it again.
