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National Needlework Archive

For day to day, special, and up to date information, such as closures due to bad weather etc., please click here to go onto our Facebook page.

The Old Chapel Textile Centre in Newbury, home of the National Needlework Archive, offer courses, workshops and exhibitions in sewing, haberdashery,  needlecraft, textiles, embroidery, cross stitch, quilting and textile art. Our shop carries an extensive range of all needlework and sewing products including fabric, threads, wool, zips and patterns. We have an archive of historic textiles and patterns and are home to The Country Wife mural.

National Needlework Archive

Country Wife Mural

National Needlework Archive in Newbury. The national record of textiles in the UK. Home of the Country Wife Mural - Contance Howard's mural made for the 1951 Festival of Britain

Archives and Study Collection


The NNA specialises in community textiles. We keep records of textiles, an extensive reference library and a textile collection

The Old Chapel Textile Centre is a voluntary community project providing space for needlework and textile courses, workshops, exhibitions, conferences and events and is the home of the National Needlework Archive and the 'Country Wife' mural circa 1951.


The  National Needlework Archive (NNA) was founded in 1998 as a charity and moved to The Old Chapel, Greenham Business Park, Newbury, in 2010. The chapel offers a great work space,educational space, as well as housing a growing collection of historical needlecraft items and database.

We aim to include all areas of the community in education and promotion of all aspects of needlecraft and textile art.

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Old Chapel Textile Centre

National Needlework Archive in Newbury. The national record of textiles in the UK.

The Old Chapel Textile Centre will be open from Saturday 2nd March to Saturday 7th December 2024 on Tuesdays, Thursdays and the 1st Saturday of each month from 10am to 4pm.

Please keep in touch by following The Old Chapel Textile Centre pages on facebook & Instagram.

Conservation of the  Country Wife  Mural  - made for the  Festival of Britain  1951

Designed by Constance Howard, and made by her and some of her students at Goldsmiths College, the mural now resides at the National Needlework Archive


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Winter Sale 2024


Stock up with lots of bargains at The Old Chapel Textile Centre End of Year Sale.


We have a vast array of fabric lengths from 50cm pieces to whole rolls. Find items that are perfect for all your making needs. This is the end of year sort out before we close for our winter break.


Saturday 30th November, Tuesday 3rd, Wednesday 4th, Thursday 5th, Friday 6th & Saturday 7th December.