Quilter Joe's Cottage

A visit to Beamish Museum today to see one of its latest additions - Quilter Joe's cottage.  On the 3rd of January 1826, Joseph Hedley (aged 76 and a very skilled needleworker) was brutally murdered at his cottage in Homer's Lane, Warden in Northumberland.  He was stabbed many times and although there were several suspects nobody was ever charged with the offence even though a reward of 100 guineas was offered.  

Over the years the cottage became a ruin until Beamish Museum stepped in and rebuilt it brick by brick.  They knew exactly what it looked like as a drawing of the cottage had been published in the national press.  The fault in a wall has even been recreated along with the heather thatched roof.

I have added a few extra photos from our visit.