Hidden Histories: Institutions
Sampler by Lorina Bulwer
c.1900
Lorina Bulwer made this sampler around 1900, whilst resident in the female lunatic ward of Great Yarmouth Workhouse. It measures 12ft by 1ft and takes the form of one long, often confusing, rant. With no punctuation, and entirely in upper case, each word has been carefully hand-stitched onto a patchwork of fabrics by the maker.
In the sampler, Lorina tells the reader stories about her life and her family, including how she feels about being in the workhouse. She is furious at finding herself in there, with few rights and labelled a lunatic.
Some suggest that the sampler is the product of an early form of art therapy, although this is unlikely. It is more probable that Lorina was permitted to continue her stitching to keep her occupied. Whilst the true extent of Lorina’s mental illness in unknown, the sampler does tell the reader something about living with the stigma of this disability.
Sampler by Lorina Bulwer, c.1900.
Costume and Textile Study Centre, Carrow House.
NWHCM : 2004.824 : T
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