The story of Joe the Quilter's cottage

The grand opening of Joe the Quilter’s cottage - the first Remaking Beamish exhibit.
Celebrations are taking place for the opening of Joe the Quilter’s cottage at Beamish Museum - the first building in the £18million Remaking Beamish project.
The grand opening of the heather-thatched cottage was taking place today (Thursday, 19th July), in the museum’s 1820s Landscape, beginning four days of celebrations.
The cottage is a recreation of the “lost” home of renowned Georgian quilter Joseph Hedley, who was murdered in 1826, in an appalling crime that shocked the nation.
The cottage features stones from Joe’s original home, including flagstones where he stood 200 years ago. The remains of Joe’s cottage in Warden, near Hexham, Northumberland, were uncovered during an archaeological dig by Beamish staff and community members.
The exhibit, which tells the story of quilting and the growth of cottage industries in the early 1800s, has been painstakingly recreated by skilled museum staff. A drawing on a postcard that was produced after Joe’s murder gave valuable details about how his home - which was demolished in 1872 - looked. A crack in the front wall of the original cottage, clearly visible in the 1820s drawing, has even been reproduced.
The Remaking Beamish project is the biggest development in the museum’s 48-year history and also includes a 1950s Town, 1950s Farm and Georgian coaching inn, where visitors can stay overnight.
Thanks to the money raised by National Lottery players, the Remaking Beamish project has been awarded £10.9million by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).
Our other Social Media pages:
Facebook: / beamishlivingmuseum
Instagram: / beamish_museum
Twitter: / beamish_museum