The Cheriton Carpet

As part of Strange Cargo’s Cheriton Artland programme, we are excited to unveil a new artwork for Cheriton Library: The Cheriton Carpet.

Artists Sally Penfold and Sarah Roëlich engaged in meaningful conversations with retired members of the Talk Time and Nepali elder groups who meet regularly at the library. They also visited Cheriton’s Age UK Centre, Cheriton Community Network, and spoke with older residents at home, reaching out through local shops, retirement homes, and post offices to invite further participation.

The stories collected from these interactions were transformed into motifs, weaving a rich tapestry of engaging and personal narratives into the final carpet design. Designer Scarlett Rickard created the 1950s-style carpet—an era fondly remembered by many participants—drawing inspiration from their doodles and sketches made during the interviews.

The artwork and an accompanying booklet were unveiled at the end of October and are now on display at Cheriton Library.

This project has been generously funded by Carr Doughty, the Paul Hamlyn Foundation, the Roger De Haan Family Trust, Shepway District Council, Kent County Council, and Arts Council England.