Quaker Tapestry Museum

Ian Jones, Food and Drink Editor

Visit now

Quaker Tapestry Museum

Friends Meeting House Stramongate, Kendal, LA9 4BH
01539722975
  • Wednesday10:00am - 4:00pm
  • Thursday10:00am - 4:00pm
  • Friday10:00am - 4:00pm
  • Saturday10:00am - 4:00pm

Always double check opening hours with the venue before making a special visit.

Quaker Tapestry Museum
Quaker Tapestry Museum
Book now

The Friends Meeting House in Kendal is the permanent home of the Quaker Tapestry, a monumental piece of popular textile art fifteen years in the making, memorialising the history of the Quaker movement from the 17th century to the present. This is a fascinating piece of social and political history, the work of over four 4000 men, women and children.

The story starts of course with George Fox, and several panels tell the story of this religious and intellectual pioneer, who emerged from the general disaster of the Civil War convinced that friendship and tolerance in religion were possible. Lesser-known events in Quaker history are depicted including their activities in Russia and the Crimean War, plus Canada and New Zealand and other global branches. You can learn about William Penn of Pennsylvania fame, plus the Quaker Merchants and the development of fair trade.

Later panels exhibit the 6000-plus Quakers who became conscientious objectors during the first world war. The controversy over their imprisonment led the army to accept conscientious objection and the principle that people might do non-combatant work in lieu of military service. The Friends Ambulance Unit (FAU) panels continue this story, studying the organisation set up in 1914 to provide medical staff for hospital trains and ships. More recently the FAU has worked in Syria and China.

There are regular how-to crafting sessions for those interested in needlework, and embroidery kits are available from the shop. There is also a fully-featured restaurant and a peace garden. The Quaker Tapestry Museum thus makes an ideal day out for families with children interested in history and arts and crafts. It’s also worth noting that the venue is set up to create an atmosphere of peace and tranquillity and to be a safe space for all, which some parents may find especially useful.

What's on near Quaker Tapestry Museum

Saltaire Brewery - 58
Until
TourSaltaire
Saltaire Brewery Tour

The guided tour offers a behind-the-scenes look at the brewhouse and state-of-the-art packaging plant, giving visitors a full sense of what “real Yorkshire beer” means today.

From £15.00

Where to go near Quaker Tapestry Museum

The Joshua Tree
Kendal and Sedbergh
Restaurant
The Joshua Tree

The Joshua Tree is a family-run, homely bistro and restaurant housed in a sixteenth century building, specialising in coffee and exquisite fish and meat dishes.

Fell Bar Brewery
Kendal and Sedbergh
Bar or Pub
Fell Bar Brewery

Fell Bar is an outlet for the Fell Brewery and a great independent venue in itself, with a broad range of connoisseur-level craft beers.

Kendal Museum
Kendal and Sedbergh
Museum
Kendal Museum

Kendal Museum houses an impressive collection of artefacts, both historical and natural, from Neolithic treasures through to beautiful animals.

Comida
Kendal and Sedbergh
Restaurant
Comida

Spanish inspired restaurant serves up Iberian classic dishes such as Spanish Omelette and Chorizo, plus many intriguing wines.

Culture Guides

Hofesh Shechter - Theatre of Dreams at Lowry
Theatre in the North

Picks this month include bold visual art, wondrous opera and cinematic dance - plus a touch of ghostly storytelling for the Halloween season.

A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night
Cinema in the North

It's busy month across the cinemas of the north as Halloween programming leads into two of the region's biggest film festivals.

Poet Helen Mort.
Literature Events in the North

One to add to your TBR pile, our latest round-up is a bumper edition and features some amazing events in Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds and beyond...

Music in the North

From New York’s experimental underground to the most exciting sounds coming from local scenes, we're lining up a noisy autumn of gigs.

A white mattress is burning in a black rocky landscape.
Exhibitions in the North

Galleries in the North are far from spooky this October - instead you'll find tactile sculptures, plant magic and curatorial experiments.