THE WINGHAM Museum recently received a valuable donation of a Victorian shawl that dates back to at least 1847.
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The item was donated by Margaret Thew (nee Allan), and was originally worn by Helen Allan, Margaret’s great great grandmother and wife of George Allan, who migrated from Glasgow in 1847.
The Allan family lived on Oxley Island, and as Margaret’s family is all deceased, she wanted the shawl given to the keeping of the Manning Valley.
The shawl is made of black lace and jet beads, and is presumed to be a mourning shawl.
Margaret was concerned with preserving the shawl for the benefit of generations to come, so contacted the Powerhouse Museum’s textile conservation department and followed their instructions to the letter to preserve and mount the item.
Barbara Waters, president of the Manning Valley Historical Society, said she had never seen someone go to that much trouble to preserve an item. “It speaks to the love and value of the piece,” she said.
In addition to the shawl, Margaret Thew also donated a number of silk baby clothes and little girl’s tea sets, some of which are made out of china.