A Present from Blackpool

Woven on silk:-
VIEW OF BLACKPOOL 

Printed at bottom of card-mount:-

	WOVEN IN PURE SILK BY THOMAS STEVENS, STEVENGRAPH WORKS, COVENTRY
	A Present from Blackpool.
	WOVEN IN THE WINTER GARDENS, BLACKPOOL.

Card-mount:
cm deep by cm wide

silk:
cm high by cm wide

by Sprake:
"View of Blackpool" woven into silk, below which is printed "A Present from Blackpool". An "aerial" view in violet of the town and piers with small boats off the beach.
Note: Loose unmounted silks of this subject have been seen in blue, and black and white.

by Godden:
At least two separate views were woven and mounted on card-mounts bearing this title, with the credit 'Woven in pure silk by Thomas Stevens, Stevengraph Works, Coventry'. The title was not included on the standard printed back-labels and it is apparent that these silks were sold in Blackpool as mementoes. Most mounts have the wording 'Woven in the Winter Gardens, Blackpool', conflicting with the standard credit relating to the Stevengraph Works at Coventry.
The first recorded view - and others may await discovery - has the title VIEW OF BLACKPOOL woven near the bottom of the picture. The view is a semi-aerial one, taken from the sea at a point between the two piers. Two steamers and various sailing craft can be seen, with a rowing-boat or lifeboat in the centre. The Blackpool sea-front and major buildings are shown near the top of the picture. The famous Blackpool Tower is not depicted as it was not built until 1895.

Other comments:
The actual silks are known to have been woven in different colours, and the ones recorded below are circa 12.0cm long by 6.2cm wide:

It is believed this silk was made between 1867 and 1890, as the jettys at the end of the lures were completed in 1867, and the Blackpool Tower, which was started in 1891, is not present. Talbot Square can be seen in the centre, and both north and central piers are shown. There is a variety of sailing boats and Yeo paddle steamers, together with a rowing boat.