Name/TitleRibbon

About this objectThis item is a length of red, white and blue ribbon, probably used for the Coronation, 2nd June 1953. It belonged to Violet Farrow, nee Turner, sister-in-law of the donor. Violet Farrow was a maid at 'The Gables', Stowmarket, and worked for Miss Savory there.

Chiara Brancato, Research Volunteer:
Several items in our collection belonged to Mrs Farrow including; books, a business document, newspaper, several sewing kits, tin boxes, personal clothing and doll’s tea and dinner services. There is also a souvenir programme of the Queen’s Coronation (See STMEA: 1988-26.10 and STMEA:2006-56) which is connected to the ribbon as both items were used by Mrs Farrow during the Coronation and the celebrations which took place in Stowmarket at the time. Very little is known about Mrs Farrow who worked as a maid for Mrs Savory at The Gables. However, the presence of these objects in our collection shows that Mrs Farrow took part in one of the significant and historical events in 20th century British history.

On June 2, 1953, the 27-year-old Queen Elizabeth II took the Coronation Oath in Westminster Abbey in London, in front of more than 8,000 guests, including prime ministers and heads of state from around the Commonwealth . The event was celebrated with stunning pageantry and marked the beginning of the second longest reign in British history.

As we have seen, Mrs Farrow was as a maid at Red Gables . At the time the owner of the house was Mrs Savory, who leased Red Gables in 1925. Today the property is a Wellbeing Hub and centre for community volunteering in Stowmarket.

The house was built in the 1860’s for Mr Eustace Prentice, on land, known as Windmill Field and Brick Clay Pit; part of the extensive Abbots Hall estate, owned from 1859 by William Prentice . The house was originally known as “Woodfield” - a name later given to a bowling club situated in the road that now crosses the original site. Eustace Prentice was a member of the influential Prentice family who contributed significantly to the industrial expansion of the town throughout the 19th century.

MeasurementsLength: 213cm

Object numberSTMEA:1988-26.9

Copyright LicenceAttribution - Non-commercial (cc)