The weekend between the first and second weeks of the course we planned a break to drive west into the beautiful Cotswolds. We met John Cunningham and Carol Frieze of Pearsall's Embroidery for lunch and I needed to stop at Burford Needlecraft to purchase twill for the first panel of my screen. It was a delightful day. As we finished lunch, Carol suggested that we might enjoy a visit to Sudeley Castle, just outside Winchcombe.Sudeley was once the home to Queen Catherine Parr, the last and surviving wife of Henry VIII. After the English Civil War, the castle fell into ruin. Then in 1837 Sudeley was rescued by the wealthy Worcester glove-makers, brothers John and William Dent. John Coucher Dent  inherited the Castle in 1855 and his wife, Emma Brocklehurst, was a passionate collector of textiles, especially lace and embroidery. In 2007 Lady Ashcombe re-discovered a number of textile items that had been stored away and forgotten about for over 30 years in the attic of the castle. Their condition is excellent, having been away from light for such a long time. One of the most interesting items in the collection (only part of which is currently on display) is a 17th century Stumpwork casket. This was something I knew that my readers would want to see but very, very few of you would have the opportunity to travel to Sudeley to see it. I found a guide and explained why I was in England (the RSN Course) and asked if I might be allowed to take a few photos without flash of some of the pieces in the exhibit. He graciously allowed me to do so. As I took my photos, he and my husband discovered that they have a shared interest in preserved railways and football so they spent a happy half hour talking while I photographed as best I could through glass without a flash.Unfortunately I was so busy photographing that I didn't take time to listen to the video describing how the casket was made. Therefore, I can't tell you what fabric and kind of thread has been used and there is minimal information on the Sudeley Castle website about the casket. For me the value lies in looking at the stitches and colors for inspiration and guidance when working a period piece.His face reminds me of what I imagine Cromwell's face must have looked like - although contemporary drawings show Cromwell as having a rounder face. He looks quite dour standing in his sumptuous tent.The dragon fly on the front edge of the box is huge in relation to the people which is typical of the period. The shading on the clothing of all the people is beautifully worked.The hands of the ladies are made of silver thread, bent into the shape of fingers. Notice the little girl in the background with her broad brimmed hat and brown coat over a deep yellow and blue dress. The sun shines like a child's drawing of the sun from the top middle of the lid.Right away I noticed that the ground was worked using the same two colors I used in my crewelwork piece - greens and golds. Notice the three different stitches that make up the ground here : long and short shading and basket stitch. The birds are quite different from one another with the one on the left having blue feathers and a long tail.The texture of the miniature castle walls is delightful with each of the two towers being worked in different sizes. You can also see quite well the silver thread hand of the woman on the left just outside the photo. the perspective achieved on the ground in front of the castle is outstanding - it almost looks three dimensional.Do you see the little girl behind the left curtain of the tent, holding hands with the woman coming out?A good view of the hillocks and the shading achieved by the embroiderer using the multiple shades of the two colors. I love that the flowers are just huge compared to the people.I'm not clear just what this woman is holding in her hand. It appears to be a head but I think it may represent a clock. The smoke coming out of the chimney is curling which is charming.You can just see the little bun shaped feet at the bottom of the casket here. I would love to be able to make something like this. It's exquisite and useful at the same time. For now, though, I'll enjoy the photographs and draw ideas from the beautiful workmanship.