A group of women are embarking on an ambitious crafting project to help keep the names of notable females from the borough in the spotlight.
Based at The Big Fandango, a sewing studio on Bolton Street, they are exploring the history of women who worked within the cotton mills and garment manufacturing industries across Bury and using it to create a giant patchwork quilt.
They will feature alongside many other remarkable women from the area, from Paralympic hero Zoe Robinson and chef Mary-Ellen McTague to author Vivienne Haigh-Wood Eliot and choreographer Arlene Phillips.
Funded by UK Shared Prosperity Fund with support from the council and Bury Voluntary Community and Faith Alliance (VCFA), the finished quilt will be displayed at Bury Art Museum in time for International Women's Day in March next year.
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Ulka Kulkarni, from Radcliffe, is a hat maker at Fab Hats and is working on a patch to celebrate textile designer Celia Birtwell, who was born in Bury and raised in Prestwich.
Ulka said: “Celia just seemed like an obvious fit given her work. Her work and the story of her life are both incredibly inspiring.
“I’ve used a mixture of different techniques in this piece.”
Rebecca said: “It’s a project for women celebrating the rich history of marvellous women that Bury has produced.
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“It’s about bringing women together to enjoy and keep those rich sewing traditions of embroidery and textile art alive while bringing us together as a community.”
Mary Burley, from Unsworth, found out about the project through a friend and is creating a square to honour Ellen Strange, a woman who was murdered by her husband more than 200 years ago.
Mary said: “I’ve enjoyed doing the research and finding out about so many local women. I’m determined to see this project through.”
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She said: “I have a personal interest in local history and wanted to make sure that these women are recognised. We must keep their names in the public eye and not allow them to disappear.”
One particularly interesting story is that of Mary Reibey nee Haydock, a Bury-born woman who was convicted of theft in 1791 after stealing a horse.
@theburytimes We spoke to the women at The Big Fandango sewing studio on Bolton Street, Bury about their upcoming sewing project for International Women's Day 2025. Full story on the Bury Times website 🗞️ #internationalwomensday #inspired #sewing #greatermanchester #famouswomen ♬ positive, confident, present, progress, corporate VP(1518395) - KosukeKawaguchi
Mary was then shipped to Australia and became a successful businesswoman and community role model.
Her face now features on Australian twenty-dollar notes.
Maz Grimshaw, from Bury, said she has been visiting the studio for around two years and says it has “done wonders” for her mental health.
She said: “I’ve been sewing my whole life, making all kinds of creations. I like that we all help each other here, it’s a good community space.”
Helen Tomlinson, chief officer at Bury VCFA, said: “Bury is full of fabulous groups and organisations and the Bury Culture Grants have enabled a diverse range of local arts and cultural projects, such as Big Fandango’s.
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“This project particularly brings together the community through a collective interest in sharing skills and stories about our local heritage and our powerful local women.
“This is just one example of how the Culture Grant has fostered creativity and cultural pride in Bury, a testament to the power of community-driven projects and I personally can’t wait to see the finished result.”
If you are interested in getting involved in the project or have stories to tell about relatives who worked in these industries, you can find out more on The Big Fandango website.
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