Exhibits
Detail from the tapestry - 'Panorama of the Norfolk Coast' by John Craske
John Craske was born on 6 July 1881 at Lower Sheringham, Norfolk. As a young man he worked out of Grimsby as a fisherman, later living in Dereham when his parents opened a fishmonger's shop there. After he married Laura A.Eke on 22 July 1908 he lived in Swanton Morley and then in North Elham, where he endured a hard living selling fish to the surrounding villages using two ponies for transport.
On 9 March 1917 John was conscripted into the army. Just one month later, after a bout of influenza, John collapsed whilst on training. He was suffering from a brain abcess. With today's medical advances this would have easily been cured, but at that time it was sadly impossible.
John finally came home on 31 October 1918 and spent the rest of his life at home with Laura, frequently in poor health, sometimes in deep unconsciousness, and often with weeks spent in bed.
For health reasons during this period he lived for a while in Blakeney, Wiveton and Hemsby before moving back to Dereham. It was here that he took up model boat building, painting and needlework, using whatever materials came to hand.
In 1927 his work was 'discovered' by Ms Valentine Ackland who introduced his work to several influential friends. This eventually led to his work being exhibited in London and New York. Fortunately for us the main tapestry in one of the exhibitions did not sell at that time.
Together with the oil painting on the opposite wall, the tapestry was generously presented to this museum by the executors of John Craske's estate. Proudly The Shell Museum is now the only place in the UK where a John Craske tapestry is on show to the public - all the others are either on show in America or in private collections.
John Craske died on 26 August 1943, aged 63 years.