Join History Curator Vicky Garrington to explore the family history behind a newly-acquired patchwork quilt used by generations of a Leith family.
We were recently visited at the Museum Collections Centre by Alexander Tulloch and his family. They had generously offered to donate a patchwork quilt used by generations of the family in Leith. Together we unfolded a large quilt made up of triangles of blue, green, red and yellow material. Heavy upholstery fabric was stitched alongside sprigged satin, all edged with a cream frill. The quilt holds many memories for Alexander and he shared some of his Leith family stories with us.
Alexander was born in 1933 and he used the quilt as a child. However, it was always referred to as ‘Grandmother’s quilt’, likely dating it to the late 19th century. This fits in well with the patterns found on the fabrics. The Tulloch family house was on Queen Charlotte Street in Leith, and the family business was John Tulloch – Butcher & Ship Store Merchant. This important ships’ chandlers was sited on the bend where Salamander Street turns into Baltic Street. An image of the shop frontage from the 1920s can be viewed at www.oldleith.org.uk The corner still exists today as partly commercial and partly residential premises, standing firm as Salamander Street changes all around it.
Ships’ chandlers existed to provision ships of all sizes with everything from meat to preserved foods and practical equipment. They were an important building block of Leith’s successful shipping industry. John Tulloch’s also served the local community as a butchers and grocers.
Alexander Tulloch didn’t follow in the footsteps of his grandfather, instead undertaking an apprenticeship at industrial and electrical engineers Bruce Peebles & Co. Ltd before becoming a scientist. He holds many iconic memories of past Leith, including watching bombs fall on Leith as a boy during the air raids of World War 2.
Alexander’s quilt is an excellent example of late 19th century home crafts. The use of upholstery fabrics is often seen in quilts of this period as the heavy fabric with a raised pile helped to trap warm air. The triangular shapes arranged into squares are also common, as it is a relatively simple pattern to produce, and the small size of the pieces allows the quilter to make the most of even the smallest remnant. The fabric used for the quilt is likely to include leftover and/ or re-used curtain, furniture upholstery and dress fabric. The colour scheme of this quilt is particularly striking, and the busy pattern makes the repairs that have been made over the years less visible.
We are grateful to Alexander Tulloch and his family for donating the quilt to Museums & Galleries Edinburgh, and for sharing stories of Leith gone-by.
