Isabella Harrison neé Sams
Local Artist and Lacemaker
Isabella Harrison (neé Sams) was the daughter of the Rev. Barwick John Sams, rector of St. Mary the Virgin Church, Grafton Regis, from 1837 - 1885.
She was a talented amateur artist and painted water colours of local scenes. Some of these scenes are available on greeting cards available from the online shop.
This watercolour painting by Isabella Sams c. 1880, shows a horse-drawn barge nearing the punt house on the Grand Junction Canal looking towards Grafton Regis with the Rectory and Church in the distance.
Lace Making
Isabella and her husband, the Rev. J. B. Harrison, revived the lace making industry in the village of Paulerspury where they lived.
Two local expert lace makers, Betsy Gibbings and Julia Reed, were active in encouraging other women in the village to get their pillows out again.
Betsy Gibbings working on the Paisley Pear and Ann Atkins making a fan outsode Betsy Gibbings' cottage in Pudding Bag Lane.