Description:Darning sampler worked on knitted white cotton fabric from the Staffordshire County Museum Collection.
The samplers were worked by Mary Anne Price at Great Haywood School between 1882 and 1884.
It is likely that this set of work was a part of her City and Guilds qualification. If a girl wanted to get into domestic service after she left school, it was essential to have proficient sewing skills. Samplers such as these could be shown to prospective employers as evidence of their abilities.
Mary Ann Price was born 17 September 1871 and was the daughter of Joseph Price, the waggoner at Shugborough. She lived at Lichfield Lodges on the Shugborough Estate. She later became a midwife and died on 25 December 1923.