On her daily walk through Sudeley’s Castle Rooms, Laura Neville, the keen-eyed Head of Household in charge of Sudeley’s conservation works, noticed some ominous undulations running along the bottom edge of one of Sudeley’s treasures - the Sheldon Tapestry - which hangs in pride of place in the Library.
Attributed to weaver Francis Hickes of Barcheston, circa 1610, the tapestry depicts a central medallion of the Expulsion of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden, along with a host of flora and fauna, influencing, rumour has it, William Morris’s Strawberry Thief design of 1883.
Woven with wool, silk and metal threads, and measuring an impressive 74 inches high by 183 inches wide, this rare tapestry was purchased by Sudeley’s owners, the glovemaker Dent brothers William and John, in 1845, from a sale at Hill Court, Gloucestershire. To this day, it remains one of the most sought out and beguiling items on show to visitors to the Castle.
Fortunately, the stars aligned for conservation and restoration studio Janie Lightfoot Textiles to carry out the much-needed conservation work during Sudeley’s inaugural History Festival. This three-day event in June 2026 also featured several talks, including by renowned historians Dr Alison Weir and Dr David Starkey.
Alongside these fascinating talks and guided tours, Janie Lightfoot Textiles carried out conservation in action in full view of visitors. Whilst working on the tapestry, two expert conservators gladly took questions from curious visitors, explaining their processes. One of the enquirers happened to be Thomas Jenner-Fust, current incumbent of Hill Court – whose forebears sold the tapestry to the Dents.
Preserving the Sheldon Tapestry
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Image courtesy of Pedge Photography -
Image courtesy of Pedge Photography -
Image courtesy of Pedge Photography -
Image courtesy of Pedge Photography -
Image courtesy of Pedge Photography -
Image courtesy of Pedge Photography -
Image courtesy of Pedge Photography -
Image courtesy of Pedge Photography -
Image courtesy of Pedge Photography -
Image courtesy of Pedge Photography -
Image courtesy of Pedge Photography -
Image courtesy of Pedge Photography -
Image courtesy of Pedge Photography -
Image courtesy of Pedge Photography -
Image courtesy of Pedge Photography -
Image courtesy of Pedge Photography
The diagnosis: the undulation along the bottom edge seemed to be, at least partially, due to the lockstitch (a later addition) securing the lining being too tight; this was preventing the tapestry from relaxing and causing tension points. A lockstitch is the most common mechanical stitch made by sewing machines, formed by 'locking' an upper thread and a lower bobbin thread together inside the fabric.
After three days’ dedicated toil, the tapestry was rehung on Velcro, a contemporary conservator’s approach, to ease its removing, when required, for future conservation. The onus is now on Sudeley to carry out a programme of annual aftercare on the tapestry recommended by Janie Lightfoot Textiles, during the closed season, from November through to March. It might be that volunteers will help with this – watch this space for further news, if anyone reading is interested!
Hopefully the History Festival will be an annual event at Sudeley; if so, Janie Lightfoot Textiles may well return for further conservation in action – there is in fact a smaller Sheldon Tapestry in the Castle’s extensive textiles collection, purchased from Hill Court at the same 1845 sale. For now, Laura is content as she walks through the Library, safe in the knowledge that this remarkable Sudeley treasure is once again hanging as it should.
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