Tales of the Tapestry

Part 1. Visitors to the Allendale will have spotted a large tapestry mounted in Reception. This was completed in 2000 and named The Millennium Tapestry. The squares depict local businesses and organisations; some still in existence, others not. We thought it was about time we discovered more about some of the squares, hence this new series - Tales of the Tapestry.

Stoneleigh

By Helen Edbrooke

“From memory, I was approached by someone from the Allendale Centre who wanted to make a tapestry which featured local organisations, clubs and businesses, to mark the millennium.

“Stoneleigh House was used briefly as a dower house for the Deans Court Estate and was subsequently owned by Dr. Ray who used part of the house as a doctors’ surgery and lived in the rest of the house with his family. His son, Colonel Ray, who attended Milton Abbey School, then took over the house. Stoneleigh was then owned briefly by Mr. Percy, who was a teacher at Queen Elizabeth’s School, before my parents, Judy and Eddy Edbrooke, bought Stoneleigh in the mid-70s and converted it to a residential care home. Stoneleigh remains in the same family today and continues to provide loving care to local elderly people. I have managed it since 1990.

“Having been asked to do a tapestry square and being advised as to what size it was to be, I sketched out a design on graph paper. We had a rather jolly gentleman residing with us at Stoneleigh House at the time; a delightful gent who was well known in the town and, despite being in his late 90s, walked along the river past the Allendale Centre most days. He often picked flowers to give to his favourite carers and would often engage passers-by with cheery chat.

“When the tapestry was completed and displayed it was a wonderful representation of Wimborne’s clubs, businesses and organisations at that time and remains proudly on display.”