The story of Joe the Quilter's cottage

The grand opening of Joe the Quilter’s cottage - the first Remaking Beamish exhibit.
Celebrations are taking place for the opening of Joe the Quilter’s cottage at Beamish Museum - the first building in the £18million Remaking Beamish project.
The grand opening of the heather-thatched cottage was taking place today (Thursday, 19th July), in the museum’s 1820s Landscape, beginning four days of celebrations.
The cottage is a recreation of the “lost” home of renowned Georgian quilter Joseph Hedley, who was murdered in 1826, in an appalling crime that shocked the nation.
The cottage features stones from Joe’s original home, including flagstones where he stood 200 years ago. The remains of Joe’s cottage in Warden, near Hexham, Northumberland, were uncovered during an archaeological dig by Beamish staff and community members.
The exhibit, which tells the story of quilting and the growth of cottage industries in the early 1800s, has been painstakingly recreated by skilled museum staff. A drawing on a postcard that was produced after Joe’s murder gave valuable details about how his home - which was demolished in 1872 - looked. A crack in the front wall of the original cottage, clearly visible in the 1820s drawing, has even been reproduced.
The Remaking Beamish project is the biggest development in the museum’s 48-year history and also includes a 1950s Town, 1950s Farm and Georgian coaching inn, where visitors can stay overnight.
Thanks to the money raised by National Lottery players, the Remaking Beamish project has been awarded £10.9million by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).
Our other Social Media pages:
Facebook: / beamishlivingmuseum
Instagram: / beamish_museum
Twitter: / beamish_museum

[@Freddowasher5]

A great addition to Beamish and lovely to see the quilting there.

[@katyfranklin5248]

Going to see this today. Cannot wait!!

[@lauriebriggs2973]

I’ll have to pop along and have a look

[@warrenwoodhouse]

4:30 Where exactly is the original dig site of the original cottage?

[@williammills9852]

Probably a bit late as I've just came across this video. But, the original site is at Warden which is slightly north west of Hexham, it's on a road called Homers lane. There's also the remnants of a medieval cross base on the lane.

[@warrenwoodhouse]

@@williammills9852 That’s what I could find but no pinpoint of the physical location, which I’m trying to find.

[@williammills9852]

@@warrenwoodhouse I've walked the lane a few times. I think the site is near the northern end as you head toward Walwick Grange house, just before the "point" in the river, where it looks like an arrowhead pointing eastward (that's the best explanation I could come up with). If you do happen to visit the site, the medieval, chevron shaped fishponds are worth a look aswell (opposite Walwick Grange house).

[@adamdalton3492]

I think it should of been rebuilt where it used to stand ... Why build it somewhere else

[@chezburger1781]

Because no one wants to drive into the middle of nowhere for a cottage with no significance but it fits well in beamish

[@eliotreader8220]

@@chezburger1781 perhaps they should put a information plate at the sight of the original cottage?

[@chezburger1781]

@@eliotreader8220 maybe, Beamish already has news paper articles. Maybe a little Commenrative place could be placed there

[@JaneAustenAteMyCat]

Spent all day at Beamish and never realised this cottage even existed. They don't exactly advertise it when you're on site (no signposts). I would have loved to have seen this!