300-year old bedspread, a gift from King James II

Textile specialists are starting conservation work on a 17th-century Goan bedspread, a thank you gift from King James II to a loyal family, at the National Trust’s Sizergh Castle in Cumbria. The magnificent bedspread has recently gone on display at the castle for the first time in more than 30 years.

The Indian bedspread is made from satin, with gold thread stitched into an intricate design of mythical creatures, and was gifted to the Strickland family of Sizergh in the 1600s in thanks for their loyalty for accompanying James II into exile.

All images © National Trust / Rod Kirkpatrick except portrait of James II which is National Trust / Robert Thrift.