National honour for the Williamson

An exhibition which celebrated the works and achievements of one of Wirral’s best-loved factories has landed a prestigious national award for the Williamson Art Gallery & Museum.

“A Textile Dynasty: Arthur H Lee & Sons”, which ran at the Birkenhead gallery between December 2008 and March 2009, was named “The Industry’s Favourite” in the 2010 Museums & Heritage Awards for Excellence. This category was voted for by readers in an online poll.

Colin Simpson, Wirral Council’s Head of Museums, collected the award on behalf of the museum at the glittering ceremony which took place at Church House in Westminster earlier this month, hosted by the journalist and travel writer Simon Calder.

The Williamson was also ‘Highly Commended’ for its role in another exhibition - “Above the Clouds - Mallory & Irvine and the Quest for Everest” - in the category of Project on a Limited Budget. This popular exhibition was staged at the Williamson last year in conjunction with Northwich’s Salt Museum.

Colin said: “To win an award voted for by the museums profession is an amazing achievement for the Williamson Art Gallery & Museum. We knew the Lee’s exhibition had been tremendous popular with many thousands of visitors, but to be given the accolade ‘The Industry’s Favourite’ is incredible.

“It is testament to the hard work and commitment of all the people whose contribution made ‘A Textile Dynasty’ happen, not just staff at the Williamson, but the many others both within and outside the Council who became involved.

“Special mention should be made to the contributions of Charles Metcalfe of Oxton who drove the project forward and Dr. Philip Sykas from Manchester Metropolitan University, who completed the in-depth research and much of the conservation work himself.

“Without the faith and investment of the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation it would not have been possible, but the whole project shows that, given the means, we are capable at the Williamson of achieving great things.”

The photograph shows Colin Simpson receiving the Industry’s Favourite award from Simon Calder, journalist and travel writer.

Arthur H Lee & Sons was a major textile manufacturer at the North-End of Birkenhead from 1908-1970. The company produced work of great complexity using both machine and hand processes and supplied fabric for major shipping lines, the White House, Royal trains and palaces, as well as leading furniture makers and the domestic market. Many of the workers still live locally and remember the factory very fondly.

“A Textile Dynasty: Arthur H Lee & Sons, an exhibition celebrating Lee’s Tapestry Works, Birkenhead, 1908-1970” ran at the Williamson Art Gallery & Museum, Slatey Road, Birkenhead from 2 December 2008 – 29 March 2009. It drew heavily on the Williamson’s own Lee collection, much of which was on public view for the first time.