The first Mistress of the School, Mrs Jean Webster, had first come

into the employ of Dora Wemyss after the death of her daughter due to

meningitis. Mrs Webster found comfort in walking through the grounds

of Wemyss Castle, and after a chance meeting with Dora, was taken

on as a sewing maid.

 

Inspired by the Royal School of Needlework in Kensington, and

immediately recognising Jean’s talent, Dora realised that with

her help she would be able to establish a school for needlework in

Wemyss that would benefit the young ladies from the surrounding

 villages.

 

The opening of the Needlework School was an act that would vastly

improve women’s employment prospects. Not only did the School

itself provide employment for particularly capable girls, but those

who passed through the School gained skills in needlework that made

them especially desirable as ladies’ maids and seamstresses. This in

turn allowed the Wemyss girls the means to become independent

breadwinners.

 

All the students taken on by the Needlework School were the

daughters of local miners and farmers, and typically started at the

age of 14, once they had finished their required regular schooling.

 A six month apprenticeship would cost 10 shillings. After this period

was up, girls would either be kept on and draw a salary, or else seek

other employment.

 

The School was originally located in a single room within Wemyss

Castle, but it quickly became apparent that this space was not big

enough. A new purpose-built building was thus established, and the

school moved into the new premises in 1880, where it still resides

to this day.

 

 The School continued to operate until the outbreak of World War

II, when young women were able to find more lucrative forms of

employment filling in for the men who had left for war. Though

 the School continued to supply materials and designs, the building

itself fell into a state of disrepair, and thus underwent extensive

renovation works before reopening to the public as a school once

again in 2013. The School continues to collect items and exhibit

a selection of its pieces. In keeping with Dora’s original plan, the

School still offers needlework and embroidery classes, and takes

commissions for many exquisite items.