Festival crafters put town on the map

The fabric map representing Houghton-le-Spring was created by the Reverend Claire Cullingworth (right). She is pictured with the Reverend John Barron and volunteers Denise Hall and Debbie Anderson

An embroidered map featuring people's memories of their hometown is forming one of the centrepieces of an annual festival.

Staged each October, Houghton Feast's origins stretch back as far as the 12th Century and now runs across 10 days.

This year, with a theme focusing on "the magic" of Houghton-le-Spring, near Sunderland, some 150 crafters came together to create the fabric map dotted with representations of their recollections and special places.

"Community is by far the strongest theme the memories relate to," said the Reverend Claire Cullingworth, of St Michael and All Angels Church, which will display the map afterwards.

"It's people saying 'this is where I belong'," she added.

The festival itself, which began on Friday and runs until Sunday, has seen an opening ceremony and illuminations switch-on, a carnival parade and fireworks display.

Additionally, there has been a roasting of an ox, continuing a tradition started in the 1500s by a rector who fed parishioners each Sunday during winter.

"The church has always been at the heart of things," Mrs Cullingworth explained, "But it goes much wider than that.

"It's probably one of the central things to happen in the town through the year and hundreds of people line the street for the parade which has groups dressed up or carrying banners alongside bands."

Fairground rides are another popular element of the celebration

A keen textile artist, Mrs Cullingworth said locations people had chosen as being notable were highlighted on the map with a star or cross.

"A lot of the memories I've heard have been Houghton Feast-related - people remembering going when they were children.

"Several people have mentioned the fairground and, in particular, the fairground organ that was a regular feature - a fancy, old-fashioned, steam-powered one.

"Then last week, a woman wanted to add a memory to the map on behalf of her parents. Her dad used to own the organ and loved to play music for the children who came to watch.

"It was a lovely thing to be able tell her some of those children remember her dad and his music, and have chosen it as one of their most magical memories, even decades later."