Patterns and Design

The patterns on the Bolton caddow quilts are relatively consistent, although the earlier designs tend to be more stylised.  There is nearly always a central motif, sometimes incorporating text or a coat of arms, usually enclosed by a circular design.  This central pattern is surrounded by several rectangular borders of varying thickness and complexity.

There are references to central designs of ‘crooked stick’, ‘simnel’, ‘cow-pap’ and ‘Duke of Brunswick’s Star’; borders of ‘bed-stocks’, ‘hanging furs’ and ‘spectacles’, and ‘cat-step’ and ‘peltering-iron’ edgings.

The ‘Duke of Brunswick’s Star’ is the eight or sixteen-pointed star motif seen in the centre of many caddows. The ‘cat-step’ border is thought to refer to the single-line geometrical outer border seen on several of the caddows, including the Windsor Castle caddow. The ‘hanging furs’ border is particularly prominent on the early William Leaf and Thomas Molyneux caddows mentioned above, but is seen on the later caddows in a smaller form.

The most common forms of border are those of square and diamond chains and the often ornate garland border, the latter incorporating foliage designs.  Several of the caddows have particularly distinct designs, for example, the fringing on the William Leaf and Thomas Molyneux caddows. The very similar designs of these two counterpanes make it very likely that they were produced by the same weaver or a close associate.

The Windsor Castle caddow, produced in 1899, incorporates prominent shamrocks, leeks, thistles and roses, surrounding a central crown, presumably commemorating a royal event. 

The caddows were frequently gifts or commissions to commemorate a birth or marriage, intended to last the life of the recipient.  Caddows of this design in the museum’s collection include the Jethro Hamer caddow, made to celebrate the marriage of Jethro Hamer and Margaret Gregson Worsley in May 1894.  Another example is the Peter Russell caddow, with the text ‘Peter Russell, Born January 8th 1819’, made for the birth of the donors grandfather. 

Several of the caddows have a series of letters and numbers embroidered onto a corner. There are several theories about what they represent, but the consensus seems to be that they are references to a particular pattern.  For example ‘F11’ in the bottom corner of the F11 Caddow, and ‘BSS F12’, on the Lords Prayer caddow.