Two vintage weaving looms that were passed down through generations of East Maitland’s Petherbridge family, have been lovingly restored and are now in full operation at Brough House, Maitland.
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It was by chance that Maitland’s Grossmann House acquired the looms after the National Trust approved their acquisition as part of the Grossmann House Collection.
One of the looms was disassembled but both had been lovingly passed down through the weavers of the Petherbridge family.
Holly McNamee from the group Friends of Grossmann House said it has been exciting developing a relationship with the Maitland branch of the Newcastle Spinners and Weavers Guild whose members are now putting the looms to the test.
“The Friends of Grossmann House are working away on creating our newly refurbished Brough House as a centre for costume and textiles in the local area,” she said.
“A collaboration between our spinners and weavers and the National Trust volunteers who tend the two Maitland properties, Grossmann and Brough houses, is a good start.
“There are plans to house some of the National Trust textile and clothing collection currently stored in Sydney, in a refurbished area of Brough House which would further enrich the Maitland community,” Ms McNamee said.
This year the looms were slowly put together with the work of the Maitland spinners and weavers, in particular Barbara Osmond whose expertise and enthusiasm is inspiring, Ms McNamee said.
“The looms have been painstakingly oiled, repaired with the assistance from Morpeth Men’s Shed, and pieced together like a complex puzzle on the newly refurbished Brough House balcony.”
Mrs Osmond has also curated a display of weaving and textiles which are open for viewing in Brough House’s upstairs exhibition room.
Brough House has a display of the weaving process offering viewers a unique opportunity to see and learn about the complicated and ancient art of weaving.
Money raised from the exhibition will be shared between the Maitland spinners and weavers and the Friends of Grossmann House.
On Saturday October 28 people with an interest in weaving will be able to try it out by working on a group project to create a table runner for display in an exhibition room at the historic Church Street property.
Those wishing to take part should ring Mrs Osmond on 0405 430 851.
The looms will be available for viewing on Saturday and Sunday September 23 and 24 and Saturday, September 30 and Sunday, October 1 between 10am and 3pm.
