A piece of intricate embroidery sewn more than 100 years ago has been reunited with its rightful owners – thanks to the Express.
The sampler, which was traditionally used to demonstrate an individual’s needlework skills, was made by Sarah Eleanor Downing at Christ Church Infant School, Macclesfield, in 1892.
Christine Tacon, of Blakelow Road, contacted the Express after her mum found the needlework in an antiques shop in Norfolk.
Reader Anna Thomas, who lives in Rainow, contacted the paper after her research revealed that Sarah was a 17-year-old trainee teacher at the time, who went on to marry the headmaster, Joseph Gaskell, and have two children, Francis Rupert and Helen Marguerite.
This has now led to the discovery of Sarah’s two grandchildren, Gillian and Geoffrey Gaskell.
Geoffrey, 70, who lives at Russell Avenue in High Lane, near Disley, and whose father was Francis, heard about the sampler’s discovery through a friend, who read our original article in March.
Geoffrey said: “It’s amazing that something could travel down to the far end of the country and arrive back in Macclesfield. It was by chance that someone spotted it and made the connection with us.”
The grandfather-of-five said: “We used to go to visit her at Roe Street every other weekend.
“Our girls have both seen the sampler and were amazed at the condition of it after 120 years.
“The find has prompted me to explore my ancestry again so who knows what I may unearth.”
Christine, who met the Gaskell family at 61 Roe Street where Sarah once lived, said: “It was lovely to meet Geoff and his sister and go to see pictures of her.
“Geoff says Sarah was quite cantankerous but she looks lovely in the photo – I suppose all school mistresses used to bark at the kids and that’s how she dealt with young children.”
She added: “It all feels worthwhile now.
“I just felt like I had something that wasn’t mine and I wanted to find the rightful place for it. If we hadn’t found the family, we would have given it to the Silk Museum. I wanted it to go somewhere it would be appreciated.”
She added: “It’s nice because it’s brought them back to Macclesfield. They have all moved away but they were getting all nostalgic at the house, it was lovely.”
Sarah Downing was born in 1875 and died aged 84 in 1959.
