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National Needlework Archive
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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.
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.
There are now revised times of opening for The Old Chapel on Saturdays.
The Old Chapel will be closed on Thursday 2nd June Bank Holiday, but will be open on Saturday 4th June
From 1st May 2022 to end of season on Thursday 8th December 2022
the Old Chapel Textile Centre will be open Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays
(10am to 4pm)
but only the
FIRST SATURDAY OF EACH MONTH
(10am to 4pm)
(Free demonstrations at 10.30am -
The Green Sewing pop-
After that date our online Green Sewing shop will operate, or visit our actual shop at The Old Chapel.
This year we are recording all community textile projects celebrating the Royal Platinum Jubilee. Please contact us for further details.
The Old Chapel Textile Centre is a working building that welcomes visitors.
However, to protect some of our vulnerable staff we are still requiring compliance with certain Covid safeguarding measures from all visitors and staff.
• Face masks must be worn when in the Centre.
• Hands must be sanitised on arrival.
• Visitors’ temperature may be taken on arrival.
We recommend taking a test before arriving at the Centre to avoid disappointment if the temperature test result is too high.
Many thanks for your understanding in this matter.
Conservation of the Country Wife Mural -
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
Talks about The Country Wife and viewings take place at 11am and 2.30pm on most Old Chapel open days. As The Country Wife is due to move position within the conservation room during the Spring/Summer of 2022 viewing may be suspended to allow this to take place. Please call in advance to ensure access is available on the day you wish to visit.