Persian Carpets on display in Woodditton

On Thursday afternoon I was asked to stand in for the Director of Gainsborough's House, Mark Bills, at a charity fundraiser in Woodditton near Newmarket.  Organised by the Persian Carpet Studio in Long Melford, the event was part of an exhibition and Christmas sale that is continuing over this weekend at the newly converted Granary Barns complex.

Mark had been invited to join a line up of experts to give a talk on Thomas Gainsborough.  He was unable to attend at the last minute, so I dusted down my Gainsborough's House talk, made some new additions in case some of the audience had heard it before,  and set off along the A14.  Also on the programme were Penny Brittain of the BBC Antiques Roadshow, and Sara Barber from the Persian Carpet Studio, who gave a fascinating talk about the production of carpets in Iran today.

All went well with my contribution as far as I could tell. The slideshow worked, and  no-one actually left or fell asleep while I was speaking.  In fact, it was a pleasant change to be listening to, and talking about, something other than local government affairs.

The carpets on display in the exhibition and sale are really something, but if a new rug is not what you have in mind at present there are many other, smaller, items on sale.  There are also a few stalls selling christmas decorations and gifts.  It is certainly worth going along to take a look and perhaps solve some Christmas gift problems.