Archives: Cathedral Banner Restored

By Freya Harrington, Archives Officer (Textiles and Conservation)

If you look closely at the ‘Our Lady of Perpetual Succour’ banner hanging on the east wall in the northern transept of St Mary’s Cathedral this May, you might notice she has had a little work done. In October of 2021, the banner was brought to the Archives for cleaning and conservation. Made in the Netherlands by established vestment maker A W Stadelmaier in 1977, it depicts the classic image of Mary in their signature modern style. To create the piece, a variety of fabrics have been appliqued onto a ground fabric, and have then been embroidered and embellished with wool, metallic threads and cabochons.

Years of being displayed on the Cathedral’s wall had resulted in the banner gathering dust, which made its colours appear dull and is damaging to the textiles it is made from. Dust particles, which at a microscopic level are sharp-edged, work their way between textile fibres and wear them down over time. Dust also attracts moisture, which promotes the growth of moulds – another danger for textile materials. To remedy this, both front and back of the banner were gently brush vacuumed using an attachment designed for museums. As dust was particularly embedded in the tabs along the top, these were further cleaned with demineralised water.

Following cleaning, the focus turned to areas where the wool embroidery was damaged or missing. This likely occurred over time from exposure to dust and light, which degrades textile fibres at a chemical level. Fraying threads were carefully supported by couching with new wool using a fine curved needle, and areas of missing threads were reinstated. In line with the ethical guidelines to which all professional conservators adhere, this is undertaken with conservation grade materials, in a way that minimally impacts the object (for example, only stitching through existing needle holes) and using a method that is reversable. Repairs should not draw the viewer’s eye from a short distance, but upon close inspection should be discernible from the original work. An example of before and after treatment can be seen in the close-up images.

Following conservation treatment, the banner’s appearance was much improved; and it can safely continue to brighten the Cathedral’s walls. Our Lady of Perpetual Succour’s condition will continue to be monitored, and it will be conserved as required – to allow it to be enjoyed for generations to come.