A Kendal museum will close its doors for the final time next month.
The Quaker Tapestry Museum, on Stramongate, has announced that it will close on December 13.
It has 77 embroidered panels of the Quaker tapestry and around 40 are on permanent display. It has around 1,000 Quaker artefacts from across Cumbria and further afield and documents, photos and samplers.
The tapestry covers over 350 years of social history. Work started on it in 1981 and the tapestry was completed by 1996. Around 4,000 people helped create it.
The museum won Small Visitor Attraction of the Year at the Cumbria Tourism Awards 2025.
The town’s Quaker Meeting House became the tapestry’s home in 1994.
Today, a statement from the trustees said the venue’s financial stability had become more difficult to sustain in recent years.
It added: “Income received from paying visitors and other sources has failed to keep pace with regular leaps in running costs.
“As a result, we have no option under our obligations to the Charity Commission but to look into an orderly winding down of the museum and sadly will say goodbye both to our staff and to our visitors.
“Despite this sad news, whilst the museum is closed we will be working very hard to find a financially sustainable future for the Quaker tapestry.
“It is the firm intention of the trustees – many of whom are Quakers – to ensure that the tapestry itself continues to serve a vital role by illustrating the traditions and values for The Religious Society of Friends.
“We would like to acknowledge all the offers of help we have received. These are very much appreciated.
“We hope to work with many of you both in terms of fundraising and defining the way forward to ensure there is a bright and sustainable future for the tapestry.”
