New exhibition at Textile Museum
Victorian Britain has long been perceived as a society dominated by men, with women relegated to the sidelines. However, a recent exhibition at Newtown Textile Museum challenges this perception by showcasing the remarkable life of Amelia Ray, a trailblazing Victorian businesswoman.
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Victorian Britain has long been perceived as a society dominated by men, with women relegated to the sidelines. However, a recent exhibition at Newtown Textile Museum challenges this perception by showcasing the remarkable life of Amelia Ray, a trailblazing Victorian businesswoman.
Displaying an extensive collection of documents, the exhibition celebrates her entrepreneurial spirit and sheds light on the often-overlooked contributions of women in Victorian society.
The story of Amelia Ray's extraordinary life began to unravel in 1990 when construction workers stumbled upon a forgotten treasure in the attic of a shop on Newtown's High Street. The boxes they discovered contained a wealth of historical artifacts, including 1,300 bills, account books, and letters related to a draper's business that operated from the premises between 1865 and 1882. Recognizing their historical significance, the papers were entrusted to local historian David Pugh, who meticulously cataloged them before their eventual transfer to the Newtown Textile Museum.
Amelia Ray: A Victorian Entrepreneur at the Cutting Edge
This event starts at 02/06/2023 10:00am and is being held at Newtown Textile Museum. Tickets free. Click here for more information.
Amelia Ray, born in Shropshire, arrived in Newtown in 1853 as the young wife of Charles Ray, a prominent businessman in the town. Charles, a wine merchant and draper, had already established himself as a respected figure in the community. When Charles's health began to decline in 1869, Amelia stepped forward to assume responsibility for the draper's business, taking on the role of sole trader.
The surviving documents offer a vivid glimpse into Amelia's entrepreneurial journey. Over the course of a decade, she transformed the draper's store into a thriving emporium that offered an array of textiles, including Welsh flannel, alpacas, silks, tweeds, and taffetas. Amelia also had the foresight to tap into the latest communication advancements of the time—the universal postal system and the national rail network. Leveraging these developments, she attracted customers from North and South Wales, as well as the English Midlands, using the postal service for orders and the railway for timely delivery.
Amelia's business acumen extended beyond mere sales. Her seamstresses crafted bespoke clothing inspired by international fashion trends, earning her the patronage of local aristocrats, including the Hanbury-Tracy family of Gregynnog Hall. Furthermore, she seemingly took on the role of a funeral director, a service that was yet to have a formal name during that era.
By 1880, Amelia had entrusted the business to her two sons and moved to a more spacious property on the outskirts of town. There, she lived until her passing in 1885 at the age of 59. Sadly, her sons lacked their mother's entrepreneurial skills, as evidenced by their bankruptcy filing just two years after her death.
"Amelia Ray: A Victorian Entrepreneur at the Cutting Edge" is open to the public at the Newtown Textile Museum until September 30.
Visitors can explore the extensive collection of documents and artifacts that offer a fascinating window into the life of this pioneering woman. For more information about the exhibition, including opening hours and updates, visit the museum's official website at www.newtowntextilemuseum.co.uk.
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