Stitching Ashbourne: A Celebration of Place, People & Stories

Stitching Ashbourne is a vibrant, community-led textile project bringing people together to celebrate the built and cultural heritage of Ashbourne. Through appliqué and embroidery, participants are creating a large-scale collaborative artwork that reflects the town’s landmarks, memories and everyday stories.

Developed in response to a period of change and renovation, the project provides a hopeful, creative space for people to reconnect with Ashbourne, each other, and the stories that shape the town.

Project Overview

At its heart, Stitching Ashbourne is about community, creativity and connection. Together, participants contribute to:

A central panel depicting community-chosen landmarks (St Oswald’s Church, Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School, the Gingerbread Café, Market Square)
Surrounding narrative squares sharing personal memories, reflections, and celebrations

Workshops have been held in accessible, welcoming venues, from schools and church halls to cafés and pubs, enabling broad participation across the town. The project invites people of all ages and abilities to co-author the artwork, making creative decisions and shaping the scale, design and content of the piece.

Impact Highlights

24 public workshops held across Ashbourne
200 plus participants engaged
174 narrative squares completed and incorporated
Cross-generational engagement, encouraging skill-sharing and storytelling
Participants act as co-authors of local heritage, shaping the content and design of the final work
Central Panel Sewing Circle exercised creative ownership, adding layers of meaning and community significance

The project emphasises process as much as product: through stitching, conversation and collaboration, participants develop confidence, build connections and strengthen pride in place.

Community Collaboration

Stitching Ashbourne is made possible through the generosity and support of:

Ashbourne Methodist Church, St Oswald’s Church, Ashbourne Town Council, Ashbourne Arts and Ashbourne Rotary Club
A dedicated team of volunteers and workshop facilitators, plus a dedicated work placement student from University of Derby
Local venues providing free, welcoming spaces for workshops including House of Beer, Sticky Fingers, Betty’s Sewing Box, Ashbourne Library and Ashbourne Town Hall.

This network reflects the collaborative spirit at the core of the project: making, talking, and sharing stories together.

Current Progress

The completed artwork is scheduled for public unveiling on Saturday 16th May at Trinity Hall The Link Centre Ashbourne, coinciding with the reopening of Ashbourne Methodist Church.

Following the unveiling, the work will tour multiple local venues, including schools, churches, libraries, and community spaces. Additional venues, businesses, and organisations are welcome to host the artwork and share in the celebration.

A Living Tapestry of Ashbourne

What makes Stitching Ashbourne special is the process of making together. Hundreds of hands, stories and memories come together to create a collective artwork that celebrates place, people and resilience.

Participants gain skills, confidence and connection, while the town gains a vibrant, community-authored artwork that tells Ashbourne’s story from the perspective of its people. This project demonstrates how creative collaboration can strengthen belonging, support wellbeing, and deliver lasting cultural impact.