The history of military conflict and the soldier’s life is retold through the ‘war quilts’ of this very rare collection curated by leading quilt historian Dr Annette Gero.

While quilting is often considered as the domain of women, this exhibition casts a different spin on the production of quilts during war-time, and shows how the hands of men turned to quilting as a past-time in the midst of the extreme conditions of war.

Made by active soldiers and prisoners of war, the quilts are constructed using rugged and difficult textiles such as thick felt, heavy woolen serge or worsted twill; all scoured from disused uniforms, army blankets and other discarded military fabrics. The exhibition includes quilts dating from 1710, through the Napoleonic Wars (1803-15), the Crimean War (1853-56) and World War I and World War II.

Image: Intarsia with Soldiers, c.1760-1780, wool, intarsia. Photo Tim Connolly, Shoot Studios