Page 12 - History-of-flooringLR

Looming large

Brintons factory, Kidderminster, circa 1870 (brintons.co.uk)

Author and historian Melvyn Thompson weaves his way through the history of Kidderminster’s renowned
carpet industry. This article is reproduced with kind permission of Brockway and the Museum of Carpet.

Chideminstre was the name recorded in the Doomsday Book for the small town After three decades of profitability the late 1970s saw the decline in the carpet
on the banks of the River Stour. With its valley location and sheep on the hills, a industry as cheaper tufted carpet, coupled with uncontrolled imports took hold.
wool-based cloth industry soon developed and, by the 1600s, small dye houses The industry took action with cutbacks and mergers, but the writing was on the
lined the river with handlooms scattered around the town producing a variety of wall. In Kidderminster town centre, the clatter of the looms could no longer be
patterned cloths. However, it was the ‘Kidderminster Stuff’ that brought the heard through the open window, and the smell from the dye houses had gone.
town to the attention of the merchants and wool dealers. ‘Stuff’ was a And so, the manufacturers condensed operations and sold their factories.
heavyweight, general purpose cloth, used for wall hangings, bedding and
clothing. It was used as a backdrop for the travelling theatre and it could also be Nonetheless, even with the contraction of the carpet industry in Kidderminster,
put on the floor. some companies have successfully continued to make carpet in the town to this
day. Brockway is one just company, which is still family run. Brockway is proud
In 1735, two ‘Stuff’ weavers became the first weavers of ‘Kidderminster’ carpet, of its craftsmanship, environmentally-aware technology and that it uses British
which was a double thickness patterned, reversible flat weave without a pile. The wool to make its carpets.
demand for carpet grew and Master weavers adapted looped pile Brussels and
the cut pile Wilton to their handlooms. In those days the weavers were assisted Yet, what happened to the industry’s assets when it contracted? In the 1970s and
by children who worked at the loom from the age of 10. They worked long hours 1980s local people believed strongly that there was a need to protect the history
in dirty loom shops in appalling conditions to complete the 25 yard piece of and legacy of the once world famous carpet industry that was declining. This
carpet by ‘fall-day’. This was the day when the weaver took the finished carpet to was why the Carpet Museum Trust was established in 1981, which collected
the factory for inspection and payment. Fall-day was either a Thursday or machinery, documents, designs and memorabilia from the carpet
Saturday and these became, and still are, the town’s market days. manufacturing companies and people associated with the trade, with the aim of
establishing a museum. After considerable effort and planning by the trustees
The early 1800s were a time of increasing population and economic growth, and and others, the opening of the Museum of Carpet, in 2012, firmly placed
the Masters profited handsomely from the carpet trade. Kidderminster’s carpets Kidderminster on the map as a site of important industrial heritage. The
were soon found in stately homes and prestigious locations around the world, Museum of Carpet is located in the refurbished grade II listed Woodward
and the Masters exhibited their handcrafted carpets at Queen Victoria’s 1851 Grosvenor Carpet factory.
Great Exhibition. Steam power was introduced and an American showed off his
newly developed power loom to the Masters. Initially they resisted, but change Inside the Museum of Carpet, visitors find an interactive, fun and unique place
was inevitable and soon the town’s skyline changed as new mills and factories to spend time. The galleries tell the story of the carpet industry from its roots in
were built in the town centre and surrounding meadowland. the 18th century to modern times where visitors learn about how carpets are
designed by manufacturers, such as Brockway. Production processes are brought
With the population at more than 20,000 new housing was needed and so the to life as skilled volunteers carry out demonstrations on the giant power looms.
town and industry settled down to a period of growth as the new Axminster Hand loom weaving volunteers demonstrate the carpet’s early craft skills roots,
weaves and wider looms were introduced. producing beautiful hand made goods sold in the Museum shop.
The after-war boom, with the building of new houses and the change to There is no doubt though that the Museum’s life blood is its volunteer team
wall-to-wall carpeting, brought unprecedented growth and prosperity. In the whose enthusiasm for the town’s heritage is infectious. Their knowledge of the
1950s-60s, there were 25 carpet manufacturing companies based in the town carpet industry is impressive and they give a warm welcome to visitors.
and 15,000 people earned a living in the industry.
www.museumofcarpet.org.uk www.brockway.co.uk

12 The History of Flooring