In this post I share some illustrations and extracts from a rare eighteenth century book about flax and hemp cultivation, processing and weaving. The book’s full title is: A Treatise concerning the Manner of Fallowing of Ground, Raising of Grass-Seeds, and Training of Lint and Hemp, for the increase and improvement of Linnen-Manufactories in Scotland, … Continue reading “Farming in Scotland”
By Percy Beales An unpublished account of the linen industry in North & South Lopham, Norfolk, written by Percy Beales in the1930’s, and here transcribed from the manuscript in the Rita & Percy Beales archive at the Crafts Study Centre, University of the Creative Arts, Farnham. Percy Beales was the husband of Rita Beales, weaver, … Continue reading A Craftsman’s Reminiscences
This post is about the handloom from North Lopham, Norfolk, now in the collection of Bankfield Museum in Halifax. This venerable old loom has been in storage since it was acquired in 1925 following the closure of T.W. & J. Buckenham, manufacturer of the finest linen in England. I am grateful to the curators for … Continue reading Lopham Looms: the Bankfield Loom
Two postcards in the Rita & Percy Beales Archive at the Crafts Study Centre show the village of North Lopham during the last days of ‘Lopham Linen’ in the second or third decade of the twentieth century. 1 The horse chestnuts are in flower so it must be May, but the year is uncertain, perhaps … Continue reading From Lopham with Love.
Last year I converted my loom into a ‘spring-loom’ by building a new fly-shuttle mechanism. Before starting I spent some time looking at looms in museums and old photographs. I found there to be three alternative ways of making the springs, which I call the stick, the rope and the coil. Springs or no springs … Continue reading Fly-Shuttle Springs: the Stick, the Rope and the Coil
Late last year I finally made it to the North Yorkshire County Records Office to look at the manuscript known as The Weaver’s Guide: Linen Designs by Ralph Watson of Aiskew. In this post I share some photographs of the manuscript, along with some background about Ralph Watson and my speculations on the techniques he … Continue reading The Weaver’s Guide