New Download - " Beautiful Irish Quakers from Mountmellick and Clonmel

It is only recently that we have come to appreciate the importance of Ireland in the development of Quaker samplers. Clonmel School was originally established in 1787 by Sarah Grubb, who as you will remember was a relative of Elizabeth Pim known for working the earliest recorded Quaker sampler. It is no surprise that the Davis family was linked to the elite merchant prince Grubb family through marriage. The distinctive features of these very beautiful samplers are the complex lettering, so distinctive of Irish samplers, and the enchanting row of budding roses.

Sarah Walpole was the third of 14 children born to Sarah and John Walpole, a descendent of William Walpole of Suffolk, England, who like many of Cromwell's troops remained in Ireland after soldiering there. Mountmellick School was founded in 1786 for poor children - one of the founders being John Pim, another relative of our Elizabeth Pim. Her sampler is very attractive monochrome, again with that fascinating lettering.

You can see that time has not been kind to these samplers, and there are many other important samplers that are sadly worn - but they must never be lost.

And this is why we invite you to continue the tradition of stitching these samplers, to keep their memories alive and vibrant. This new download gives you both samplers for $20, £10, 15 Euros or 2000Yen. Click here to browse or buy.

And here is the earliest Quaker sampler known to date, by Elizabeth Pim. Click here to browse or buy.