Keeping linen craft alive

Linenblue.com has made a hand-woven piece of linen which will be used by Colonial Williamsburg - the world’s largest living history museum, located in Williamsburg, Virginia - to recreate the tent George Washington used on the battlefield during the American Revolution.

It was George Washington’s home for much of America’s Revolutionary War - a large oval-shaped tent or marquee that was his bedroom and office — the original “oval office” occupied by the first commander-in-chief of American military forces.

It was below this canvas that the great commander made the decisions that guided a war and forged a nation.

The original marquee, now a fragile relic, is in storage until it will be permanently exhibited in the new Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia, scheduled to open in 2016.

Later this year staff from Colonial Williamsburg will recreate this important historic artefact using only the tools and techniques of the 18th century.

Most of the replica tent will be made of Irish Linen hand-woven in Northern Ireland and provided by local firm Linenblue.com.

The completed marquee will measure 22 feet long, 15 feet wide and ten feet high and will be used by the Museum of the American Revolution for a variety of educational and outreach programs across the United States, and will perhaps later return to Northern Ireland.

Scott Stephenson, Director of Collections and Interpretation for the Museum of the American Revolution, and Mark Hutter, senior Tailor from Colonial Williamsburg, took delivery of the Irish Linen last week when they visited the local company.

During their time in Northern Ireland, they also paid a visit to the Irish Linen Centre in Lisburn.