Old Chapel Textile Centre

About the museum

The Old Chapel Textile Centre is the public home of the National Needlework Archive, a registered charity that keeps a record of community and historic textiles across the UK. The charity also promotes contemporary textile art and runs education programmes and exhibitions. The centre has moved to Astor House at Newbury Business Park, and the website uses both Old Chapel Textile Centre and Astor House Textile Centre as names.

The archive holds historic textiles and patterns, a library of textile books, magazines and dress and knitting patterns, and a study collection of textile items, machines, tools, haberdashery and laundry equipment. It also looks after a collection of Women's Institute textiles.

The centre is home to the Country Wife mural, made by Constance Howard for the 1951 Festival of Britain; the mural is currently not on show, but a video about it can be requested. Visitors can see changing exhibitions, browse a café gallery with needlepoint pictures and framed samplers from the archive, visit the conservation room and take part in sewing, embroidery, quilting and other courses.

Highlights

• Archive of historic textiles and patterns
• Country Wife mural by Constance Howard from the 1951 Festival of Britain (currently not on display)
• Exhibitions such as one on the history of paper dress patterns
• Café gallery with needlepoint pictures and framed samplers
• Courses and workshops in sewing, embroidery, quilting and textile art

Permanent exhibition

• Archive of historic textiles and patterns – The National Needlework Archive keeps historic textiles and patterns, a study collection and a textile library, shown in changing displays and the conservation room.

Founded

2010

Operated by

National Needlework Archive (registered charity no. 1136942)

Admission & discounts

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

All public areas are on the ground floor.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

Newbury Business Park is on London Road (A4) between Thatcham and Newbury. Astor House is on the corner of the roundabout opposite Dunelm and B&Q.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

Tea room serving coffee, tea and cake (no need to book). The shop sells fabric, threads, wool, zips and patterns.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit