True sanquhar gloves have two different motifs used alternately in adjacent squares. Euchanfoot, sanquhar formerly carronbridge, durisdeer. History of sanquhar, in dumfries and galloway and dumfries. Click here for graphs and data of how dumfries and galloway has changed over two centuries. Nov 20, 2014 sanquhar gloves usually have the initials of the wearer stitched into the wrist these gloves are from the handling collection of the tollbooth museum in sanquhar hand knitting as a cottage industry died out in sanquhar during the 19th century, but the tradition has survived. A living scottish tradition in addition to a bibliography and reference materials, the exhibition boasts photographs of sanquhar gloves in collections around the world. An tseann chathair meaning the old seat 2 is a town on the river nith in dumfries and galloway, scotland. The tolbooth museum had a small but perfectly formed permanent exhibition on the gloves. Sanquhar is now part of dumfries and galloway district. Nevertheless, by the mid 1700s knitting skills had spread throughout the country. Situated on the southern approach to the former royal burgh of sanquhar in dumfries and galloway, south west scotland, it sits on the trail of the southern upland way, and is passed by hundreds of visitors who walk through the grounds each year. In 2014, sanquhar pattern designs, an initiative was setup to revive a cottage industry and safeguard a local tradition, producing original knitwear from sanquhar, the home of the historic pattern. Learn to knit sanquhar pattern gloves about although the origins of the famous twocoloured geometric pattern of the dumfries and galloway royal burgh remain obscure, the craft of knitting and the sanquhar pattern have enjoyed a long and successful association over the centuries. They also had a handling collection, which contained, amongst others, a number of gloves belonging to one lady cyclist.
Mittens, and rather later, gloves were made in the same manner. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks. It is a former royal burgh sanquhar is notable for its tiny post office established in 1712, claimed to be the oldest working post office in the world. Sanquhars main attraction is the tolbooth museum, a handsome georgian town house in which the history of the village is revealed. Sanquhar gloves unl digital commons university of nebraska. Sanquhar is a town and royal burgh in nithsdale in dumfriesshire. The knitting traditions newsletter is published once and occasionally two times per month and is chock full of tips, ideas, and gorgeous knitting projects from beth. With a history dating to the eighteenth century, sanquhar gloves look as modern as ever, with bold use of color and graphic motifs. Yarn rowan fine tweed a pendle 377 2 x 25gm b bell busk 376 2 x 25gm needles set of 4 doublepointed 3. However, just like the other book, the instruction is limited to the authors preferences in knitting styles rather than show several ways that color work is more. Traditional scottish knitting, sanquhar pattern gloves. There is an ancient ruin of a castle that overlooks the town, but the name predates even this ancient fort.
With its location along the river nith, sanquhar has been a major crossroads for centuries. Nov 07, 2014 i did a presentation on the history of sanquhar knitting, and how the old patterns and gloves to this day have inspired knitters the world over. Other articles where sanquhar declaration is discussed. The idea of the initiative is to resurrect a dying cottage industry and preserve the history and heritage of sanquhar knitting products made by sanquhar pattern designs, are made. Seanchair is a village on the river nith in dumfries and galloway, scotland. This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the original. Apr 24, 2020 sanquhar post office is up for sale and desperately needs a new owner before the may deadline dumfries news the post office which dates back to 1712 is the oldest working post office in the world. During the last few decades journalists and researchers from across.
Finished size completed gloves are approx 25 cm 10 in long and. Sanquhar news, views, gossip, pictures, video daily record. This digital exhibition is a wonderful example of how history can be. Francis frith the uks leading publisher of local photographs since 1860. Sanquhar is notable for its tiny post office, established in 1712 and held to be the oldest working post office in the world. It additionally mentions his son robertbarrie surgeon with. As a result there has been a long history of producing and exporting textiles.
Sanquhar photos, maps, books, memories francis frith. In november 2014, a the airts unacci upper nithsdale arts and crafts community initiative launched a major new knitting project which is hoped to make a significant impact on the economic climate of the region. Sanquhar is notable for its tiny post office established in 1712, claimed to be the oldest working post office in the world. With only a small group of men, he was easily taken and killed by royal troops at airds moss in ayrshire in the summer of 1680. Sanquhar parish records genealogy and family history in.
Sanquhar was made a royal burgh in 1598, and forms one of the dumfries district of parliamentary burghs, which returns 1 member. During the workshop you will swatch designs and learn about glove construction, so that youre all set to make your own pair by. Read more about the history here and more pictures of old gloves here. I was passing some time reading kate davies great blog one friday, and she mentioned a sanquhar knitting workshop taking place the next day in sanquhar. A living scottish tradition knitting history forum. Lace 50% shetland, 50% wool 185 yards 25 grams 1024 projects. The wearers initials are traditionally worked into the cuff. Featured texts all books all texts latest this just in smithsonian libraries fedlink us genealogy lincoln collection. We are busy preparing more old maps of sanquhar from other years. The instructions of knitting a pair sanquhar gloves. Gloves knitted in the sanquhar pattern contributed by sanquhar tolbooth museum these gloves belonged to john swan waugh, the first sanquhar volunteer for the boer war. Sanquhar knitting has its very own group on theie forum where people discuss sanquhar gloves and other traditional regional knitting, including dales knitting. My hand is medium sized and i worked my glove at 11 stsinch.
See more ideas about knitting, knitting patterns and pattern. Sanquhar castle, now a ruin, was built by the crichton family in the th century. I knew of sanquhar knitting, as we have a pair of sanquhar gloves knitted in the inimitable black and white tiled sanquhar style on display at the national museum of scotland level 3, scottish galleries. It makes a gusset between forefinger and middle finger. The sanquhar knitting book from the peoples friend. The first knitters were highly paid craftsmen of the 16th and 17th centuries who protected the secrets of their trade within incorporations or guilds. Please also bring an extra set each of dpn one size larger and one size smaller than the size you will use for your gloves, just in case you find you need to make gauge adjustments. A very tasty lunch was available in the cafe of the a the airts centre, where the event was hosted. Find out what life was like in the towns jail and learn about the miners of sanquhar, as well as the local weaving and handknitting industries. It is a royal burgh sanquhar is notable for its tiny post office established in 1712, claimed to be the oldest working post office in the world. The idea of the initiative is to resurrect a dying cottage industry and preserve the history and heritage of sanquhar knitting. The decline of traditional industries in the middle of this century hurt the town, but now new manufacturers are moving in and there is a strong sense of community in the burgh. Isbn97844163220 curators note, this book is in japanese. The stands on the river nith, north of thornhill and west of moffat sanquhar is notable for its tiny post office established in 1712, claimed to be the oldest working post office in the world.
Over 80 years ago my grandfather worked in the coal mines and my grandmother sewed the fingers into the sanquar gloves like the ones on display. This online exhibition is brought to you by the center for knit and crochet. Sanquhar itself prospered through the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Sanquhar visitor guide accommodation, things to do. Sanquhar pattern designs initiates and supports a longterm project to produce highquality knitwear using the traditional, distinctive sanquhar patterns. Plus, practice knitting sanquhar gloves with the beths winter glove pattern, included with this workshop. Situated on the southern approach to the former royal burgh of sanquhar in dumfries and galloway, south west scotland, it sits on the trail of the southern upland way, and is passed by hundreds of visitors who walk through the grounds each year the castle is a stronghold bounded on the west by the river nith. Oh, and did i mention the cottage industry of knitting that produced stockings and. This ordinance refers to a particular sort of grain measure, in vogue in nithsdale in the eighteenth century, called the nithsdale peck. Nov 05, 2019 the worlds first and oldest post office is on the brink of closure after more than 300 years. We get at the capacity of this measure by history of sanquhar. Also includes separate charts of all the letters upsidedown, to make charting the initials panel at the top of the scarf easier. The book abounds with wonderful patterns just like the authors other book nordic knitting traditions. Charts for the full alphabet, in the traditional style of the sanquhar gloves, taken from extensive research and firsthand charting from the gloves themselves includes many alternative letter styles to choose from.
Join knitwear designer and historian, angharad thomas, for a fascinating handson masterclass that traces the traditions of sanquhar gloves, with their distinctive 9. Dark squares enclosing the smaller motifs distinguish sanquhar gloves from other diamond patterned styles. The traditional sanquhar patterns sanquhar pattern designs. It was also the place where the covenanters, who opposed episcopalisation of the church, signed the sanquhar declaration renouncing their allegiance to the king. Sanquhar gloves, shepherds plaid design knitting pattern. At the workshop may maccormick, who has knitted literally hundreds of pairs of sanquhar gloves, was demonstrating her considerable skills.
Photos, maps, personal memories and local books of sanquhar. Knitted in two contrasting colour wools, usually black and white, using colour stranding technique. A short history of knitting in sanquhar tomofholland. Sanquhar cemetery, created by cierragunn, sanquhar, dumfries and galloway, scotland, united kingdom take billiongraves with you wherever you go. Sanquhar tolbooth museum 2020 all you need to know. Most recent books on the topic of traditional knitting contain information on sanquhar knitting. See more ideas about knitting patterns, knitting and pattern. The history of the pattern sanquhar pattern designs. The sanquhar declarations of 1685 were the basis for the idea of religious freedom in scotland, and the towns post office, built in 1712, is the oldest extant mailing base in the entire world. Products made by sanquhar pattern designs, are made in sanquhar, scotland the home of the sanquhar pattern.
Oh, and did i mention the cottage industry of knitting that produced stockings and gloves knit in a variety of patterns unique to the area. Nov 25, 2007 traditional gloves knitted in the town of sanquhar, dumfriesshire, scotland. As our way of saying thanks, well give you the gansey fingerless mitts pattern to try right away. Want to learn knitting techniques for making gloves that fit well. If you have a larger hand, you may wish to work the pattern at 9 stsinch or choose a larger motif. Records images cemetery page showing maps, records, and images of headstones in the sanquhar cemetery, sanquhar, dumfries and galloway, scotland, united kingdom billiongraves cemetery and images. In november 2014, a the airts launched a major new knitting project which is hoped to make a significant impact on the economic climate of upper nithsdale. Books about sanquhar area browse 3 photo books on sanquhar and the surrounding area. Sanquhar knitting workshop was part of glasgow universitys knitting in the round project and was held at a the airts, a lovely community arts centre at the heart of sanquhar. Nov 21, 2014 i was passing some time reading kate davies great blog one friday, and she mentioned a sanquhar knitting workshop taking place the next day in sanquhar.
Sanquhar post office in sanquhar, dumfries and galloway, in. The history of sanquhar by james brown 1891 after the reformation, knox and the ecclesiastical authorities of the new church set themselves to check the loose morals of the people, and the more decent observance of the sabbath was a point on which they strenuously insisted. See more ideas about mittens, knitting and knitting patterns. What a surprise to see so much history about a small town sanquhar. Ecclesiastical after the reformation, knox and the ecclesiastical authorities of the new church set themselves to check the loose morals of the people, and the more decent observance of the sabbath was a point on which they strenuously insisted. This is one of those books with a bit of a learning curve for me as ive never knitted gloves or mittens by making the thumb or fingers first, then knitting from the finger end to the cuff, and so far i havent knitted flip top gloves mittens either. Sir robert crichton of sanquhar married elizabeth erskine, daughter of sir john erskine of kinnoull. Search the history of over 431 billion web pages on the internet.
Sanquhar post office in sanquhar, dumfries and galloway, in scotland, opened its doors in 1712, and. Pinwheel gloves are a contemporary interpretation of traditional sanquhar gloves. The worlds first and oldest post office is on the brink of closure after more than 300 years. The name sanquhar comes from the scottish gaelic language seann cathair, meaning old seat. Sanquhar post office is up for sale and desperately needs a new owner before the may deadline dumfries news the post office which dates back to. Sanquhar, dumfriesshire tom wilsons annals of sanquhar states on page 185 that john barrie was a dyer early 1700s and opened his home to jacobites which rendered him a bit of trouble, but he was able to circumvent it.
Nov 29, 2007 read more about the history here and more pictures of old gloves here. Sanquhar, dumfries and galloway, scotland, united kingdom. Knit 25 scandinavian, icelandic and fair isle accessories and the yarns suggested are readily available at your lys or online. I knew of sanquhar knitting, as we have a pair of sanquhar gloves knitted in the inimitable black and white tiled sanquhar style on display at the national museum. The craft of knitting came relatively late to scotland. Sanquhar gloves usually have the initials of the wearer stitched into the wrist these gloves are from the handling collection of the tollbooth museum in sanquhar hand knitting as a cottage industry died out in sanquhar during the 19th century, but the tradition has survived.
Sanquhar glove knitting pattern books are now available through our web store. Get the billiongraves app now and help collect images for this cemetery. Detailed history of the sanquhar knitting tradition. I knew of sanquhar knitting, as we have a pair of sanquhar gloves. The history of sanquhar classic reprint brown, james on. While working patternc, cast on 9 sts between foreside and backside. Sanquhar cemetery, sanquhar, dumfries and galloway, scotland, united kingdom.