Since April 2015 a small army of stitchers around Elmbridge have worked to create 44 panels for the Mount Felix Tapestry, an ongoing community art project commemorating Mount Felix Hospital in WW1, based in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey. The Tapestry tells the story of some of the casualties and staff at this New Zealand Hospital.
Riverhouse is excited to be nearing the end of the community stitch project commemorating the centenary of the Mount Felix Hospital in Walton throughout WWI. The Mount Felix hospital (New Zealand General Hospital 2) was created for soldiers from New Zealand wounded at Gallipoli and later battles. They have discovered moving true stories of soldiers from the hospital, on their journey from New Zealand through fighting at Gallipoli, being wounded and shipped to Mount Felix. Three stories of soldiers who met and fell in love with their future wives during their time at Mount Felix have also been identified. These stories as well as those of nurses, doctors and members of the community of Walton create a narrative.
This narrative has been beautifully illustrated by Andrew Crummy who designed the Prestonpans Tapestry (104m long community stitch project in Scotland). His illustrations form a tapestry of 44 panels currently being stitched by community groups ranging from primary schools to experienced embroiderers. There is a community panel traveling around Walton at present, so you can catch up with it and add your stitches to it in the library.
This incredible work is now on display, with a hope to then be able to tour the work around the local area, and as far afield as New Zealand, where some of the tapestry has been stitched and where the descendants of some of the soldiers and nurses who passed through the doors of Mount Felix now live.
If you would like to help fund the rest of the project and the tour, please contact Emily at emily@riverhousebarn.co.uk
- For more details visit: www.mountfelixtapestry.co.uk
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