Plans to expand Axminster banners project over next two years

Axminster Chamber of Commerce's initiative to decorate the town with colourful banners has been deemed a widely-welcomed success, with plans to expand the project in future. 

Taking inspiration from other towns, including neighbouring Colyton, Axminster was decorated with handmade colourful banners hanging from shop fronts, each depicting a part of Axminster history and heritage.

It started with 16 banners and there are plans to add 10 more this year, and a further 10 in 2024.

A spokesperson for Axminster Chamber of Commerce said: "If we get all the way to 36 we think we will have created what amounts to a complete Axminster Banners Trail. 

"With each banner telling its own story of the town's past and present - told through shop window signs and our website - those who follow it will learn more about a fascinating town and the area around it. 

"We already have some designs in the locker with which to start 2023. One certainty is a banner to celebrate the Coronation of King Charles III. 

"It will take two years to achieve a full spread around the town centre, but we are hoping to identify new banner locations in South Street and Victoria Place, with a few also in Chard Street/George Square, and Church Street/Silver Street."

How Axminster banners got started

Explaining how the project got started, the spokesperson added: "In 2022, we set out on a process we knew very little about. We were fortunate to be able to draw on Colyton's experience with banners and had much guidance from Tewkesbury, regarded by many as the banners capital of the UK. Even so, it was a much bigger and more complex undertaking than we expected and we learned a lot along the way.

"We need to say thank you in particular to the Axminster Community Shed for untiring practical input and hosting our painting team, plus the George Hotel for allowing us to work there when we ran out of space. When it all got a bit hectic we enjoyed some welcome help from a second team of painters operating at All Saints Village Hall. 

"Axminster Heritage Centre kindly input to the content of the historic banners. None of it could have happened without funding from the East Devon AONB, Axminster Town Council and East Devon District Council. But most of all we owe a big debt to our enthusiastic volunteers - stitchers, designers, painters and erectors.

"We want the banners campaign to be driven by the community. One of our big aims now is to bring schools into the initiative. We are currently talking to them about how to achieve the best educational value from the whole process. 

"Our hope is that by becoming involved, pupils will not just try a new art form but really think about their town and what it means to them. 

"We are also keen to involve other community groups. Pippins Community Centre have already given us use of their premises for banner repairs and we are talking to the Axminster Twinning Association about a banner to celebrate our French twin town of Douvres la Délivrande. 

"Our other plans include a bespoke website and a children's colouring book.

How are the banners made?

"Every banner is hand-made. First, our stitchers cut the fabric to size, apply a hem and add three hoops from which the banners will hang. Meanwhile, our creatives have come up with their designs, which are transferred to paper ready for tracing onto the fabric which has been sealed with several white undercoats.

"Then the painting team colour in the designs to the guide prepared by our lead designer. By the time they have finished up to 11 coats of sealer, paint and glaze will have been applied to each side. 

"We estimate a total of 60 hours is devoted to each banner through the various stages. 

"Finally, the erection team will take the banners out on the streets where they display them using specially designed and fabricated poles with attractive finials.

"In the past few days we have had the welcome news that Axminster Town Council has very kindly given us the use of the beautiful old Court Room as a banners painting workshop. Situated on the first floor of the listed Court House building in Church Street, the room is spacious and light with a beautiful view of the Minster Church. 

"We aim to make it our operations centre very quickly. Needless to say, we are hugely grateful to the town council for its continuing support and enthusiasm.

"We are working on a detailed production timetable with the aim of returning last year's banners to the streets in time for the coronation on May 6. We will also at that point introduce at least some of the new set of ten.

"We are going to need all sorts of help to take this inspirational project on to the next stage."

All those interested in helping are invited to an informal briefing at our new workshop in the Old Court House building (first floor) on Wednesday, February 15 at 6pm or email [email protected]