Midsomer Quilting, based in Chilcompton, is hosting an exhibition of heritage quilts from various regions and eras until Bank Holiday Monday, 29th August.

The quilts are on loan from Jan Hassard, a collector and established quilter herself. She was one of the founding members of the Bristol Embroidery Guild, before

joining the quilters in the eighties and then began teaching in 1989. She said: “It is a wonderful compliment to have my own designs and my heritage collection on display.”

Some of the quilts on show include Red Cross Quilts, which were made and

distributed during the war.

Of the 25,000 known to have been made, only fifty or so are known to survive.

Jan added: “I began collecting heritage quilts in the 1990s – I was at Shepton

Mallet Antique Fair and found a Red Cross quilt, and it reminded me of a story my mother told me about when our house was hit during the blitz.”

There are around forty quilts on display during Midsomer Quilting’s exhibition, which include various heritage quilts, as well as several of Jan’s own designs, with her style based on colour and illusion to create a 3D effect. She will also be returning to Midsomer Quilting in the autumn for a talk on the subject.

Midsomer Quilting can be found at Norton Green Garden Centre, Chilcompton and is open Friday to Monday, from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., opening at 10.30 a.m. on the Sunday.