The Liverpool Tapestry:
People, Places and Passions
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139
This Roman Catholic church, which is in St. Helens, has been
dubbed ‘The Basilica of St. Helens’ as it has two octagonal towers,
one of which has a dome rising from the tower, topped with a
copper cross which is 16’ high. It dominates the St. Helens skyline.
“
The river pilots of the Mersey were based at the Pilotage building
for over 100 years. My interest in it stems from the fact that my
husband lived on the top floor of the building, from the age of
eight, for eleven years, as his parents were the building’s managers.
Although I am an experienced cross-stitcher, I had never created a
pattern and at first found it difficult to get it right. One afternoon,
I visited the Walker Art Gallery to see Ben Johnson’s ‘Cityscape’.
There, at the very front of the work, was the Pilotage! Via the
gallery staff, Ben kindly gave me permission to use his Pilotage as
the basis for my pattern.
My husband is delighted that his old home has been stitched into
the Tapestry, and I am delighted to be inspired to try new stitching
challenges.”
St. Mary’s Lowe House
Designed and stitched by Carole Lawson
The Pilotage
Designed and stitched by Jean Livingstone