Went with friends yesterday to Burnley. After Church at St Catherine’s we went to Towneley Hall for a look around and a picnic.
https://towneley.org.uk/
Fifteenth century vestments .
A moving war memorial.
From the art gallery , which had many splendid paintings.
St Catherine’s church.
Interesting display of toy soldiers and what I presume is them being painted in a factory.
Another splendid painting. The Hall itself which is undergoing repairs. All in all a grand day out.
Home to a famous Jacobite-
Close up of beautiful embroidery work.
Nice picture of homeworkers painting toy soldiers on the dining room table, it isn't clear enough to make out the figures they're painting but the soldiers in the display are Johillco, who moved to Burnley after their London factory was destroyed in the Blitz.
ReplyDeleteI couldn’t make the figures out in the photo either. Interesting to hear of the relocation.
DeleteAlan Tradgardland
I didnt realise that Burnley had some beautiful Pre Raphealite paintings.
ReplyDeleteIt does plus Alma Tedema too! Worth a visit definitely.
ReplyDeleteAlan Tradgardland
Home working used to be very common - a van from a company would drop of the work and then collect the next day. Increased the production capacity for the company without paying overtime and many families found it a useful way to add income.
ReplyDeleteFascinating, especially in conjunction with the photo.
DeleteAlan Tradgardland
Yes Brian is quite right, these are Johillco or John Hill and Co figures like those made and painted in Burnley postwar. After the Blitz damaged the Islington London factory (used from 1898-1939) some undamaged moulds were saved and moved to be used postwar 1946-1960s by Alec Standing a printer at Burnley Wood Mill in Burnley, first at Plumbe Street and then larger premises at Parliament Street before downsizing to Ryland Street into the 60s as lead figures production declined. (Info from The Great Book Of Hollowcast Figures by Norman Joplin.)
ReplyDeleteI have some Johillco figures amongst my old toy soldiers. Having been to Burnley and reading this adds something to them for me. I always like a back story.
ReplyDeleteAlan Tradgardland