An uncommon bed cover, estimated to be 300 years old, has been put on public display at the National Trust Cymru’s Erddig Hall and Garden in Wrexham.

Extensive conservation and research undertaken by experts have unearthed hidden facts about its history, material and the critical needlework that preserved it during the wartime.

Commissioned for Erddig back in 1720 by former owner, John Meller, the cover, also referred to as a coverlet, was designated for an illustrious room in the building - the Best Bed Chamber.

This particular location was where the most esteemed guests of the Meller family were accommodated.

Later in the 19th century, the bedroom and its bed were referred to as the State Bed and State Bedroom, respectively.

The coverlet, beautifully adorned with peacock and flower motifs, has up until now, been believed to have been produced entirely from imported Chinese silk.

However, in recent times, nearly 700 hours of crucial conservation work, generously funded by The Royal Oak Foundation, has taken place at the National Trust Textile Conservation Studio in Norfolk.

This has established that the cherished coverlet is actually made up of textiles and embroidery techniques from various parts of the world, including Welsh and other British fabrics.

This surprising composition is attributed to meticulous repair work undertaken by Louisa Yorke, the spouse of Philip Yorke II, following the conclusion of the First World War.

The couple strived to maintain their home and its contents despite falling household revenues and a reduction in their staff count.

Louisa Yorke dedicated her time to repairing the depreciating bedding with material she managed to find within the property.

Her exceptional skills are evident in the material similar to petticoat quilting that has been meticulously stitched along the sides of the coverlet.

Interestingly, Mrs Yorke documented her efforts in a journal titled Facts and Fancies at Erthig on the Dyke.

The entries disclose how she was assisted by others in performing the repairs.

Conservators found stunning fragments of 18th-century British embroidery, richly coloured and decorated with intricate flowers and grapes, along the edge of the coverlet.

These pieces had been covered over during repair work in the late 1960s and have not been seen since.

From September 4, guests of Erddig will be provided with a rare chance to observe the coverlet's extraordinary details up close.

To complement the display in the Print Room, Mrs Yorke’s journal as well as fragments of fabric—including patches of flowers and butterflies—recovered from her workbag will form part of the exhibit.

The restoration of the bed remains in progress, with the cornices, curtains and gilded sections set to be worked on next.

Additionally, visitors can also have their interest piqued by the Victorian parterre in the Grade-I listed garden.

The summer planting scheme in this area has been inspired by the coverlet with the tone of the two-toned dahlias and fragrant petunias reflecting the colour of the flowers depicted on the cover.

Salvia farinacea has been included to replicate the blue threads on the cover, while the white tones of the bed cover itself are represented by white begonias and silvery cineraria.

Jane Smith, senior textile conservator at the National Trust Conservation Studio said: "The failing 1960s treatment has been reversed, original silk has been supported onto new, dyed silk and fine conservation net is now protecting the fragile fabrics. The peacocks were removed enabling the quilt to be washed, revealing the unfaded colours on the reverse and giving an indication of how vibrant the bed used to be. Unfortunately, the gold-coloured braid along the edges was too damaged to conserve so a new braid was made, replicating the original.

"To reveal the British embroidery was an exciting moment as it hadn’t been seen since it was covered over in the 1960s. It had been pieced together without any regard to pattern matching suggesting that much of the fabric was damaged with only some of the fabric being saved and reused. Adding these pieces of embroidery to a Welsh whole cloth quilt created a unique textile, bringing together Chinese, British and Welsh high-quality workmanship.

"The evidence of the darning on the whole cloth quilt, carried out in the early 20th century together with the accounts of those that repaired it has been a fascinating link to those before me who wanted to preserve these important textiles. I have enjoyed adding a new chapter in the bedcover’s history of care and renewal, following on from all those that have valued it before me."

Susanne Gronnow, Erddig’s property curator, said: "This is a unique opportunity for visitors to see the beauty of the bedcover up close, as it has never been displayed before. The discovery of some ‘new’ embroidery, hidden for over 50 years, means visitors can now see the bedcover exactly as the last Mrs Yorke would have known it. "Thankfully, Mrs Yorke recognised the historical significance of the state bed. Her mend and repair approach helped preserve the bed-hangings for future generations. Without the dedication of Mrs Yorke and her friends over a century ago, this important bed would not have survived for us to see today."