Welcome to axminsterheritage.org
   axminsterheritage.org  >  welcome  >  latest news
notable events and news   
Axminster Heritage - welcome
Welcome - click here
Background - click here
Project Aims - click here
Latest News - you are here
Fund Raising - click here
Articles - click here
Galleries - click here
Contact Us - click here
Links - click here
Useful web links - click here!
Carpet articles - click here!
 
Latest News
The Sounds of Carpet Making CD - click here for details!
                       
Axminster Heritage updates
Find out about Heritage project developments below with our news snippets - remember to check back regularly for the latest updates and details of upcoming events!
 
£200,000 Devon County Council grant - click here   Heritage Centre plans - click here   Honorary President - click here   Minster Church - two new bells - click here
  Axminster Heritage
Limited have been
awarded £200,000
    £200,000 Devon County Council grant - click here  read more
  Heritage Centre plans and Country Life magazine article
    Axminster Heritage Centre Plans - click here  read more
  The Earl of Devon becomes Honorary President of Axminster Heritage     Honorary President - click here  read more   A pair of new bells were
commissioned and
named after Whitty &
Dutfield    Minster Church - two new bells - click here  read more
 
 
 

News: March 2009  Green light for proposed new Heritage Centre

Axminster Heritage Limited have been awarded £200,000 by Devon County Council towards the development of a Heritage Centre in the town. The grant has been made available from the money acquired by the Council from the sale of Exeter Airport and allocated to develop capital projects in the county.

The Leader of Devon County Council, Cllr Brian Greenslade, said: "I am very pleased that the County Council has been able to help. Axminster carpets are known worldwide and the proposed heritage centre helps the County Council deliver its policy of celebrating Devon's culture. This is yet another example of the money from the highly successful sale of Exeter Airport being invested in Devon."

Whilst £1.5m will be required to fully develop the Centre that will be located in Thomas Whitty House in Silver Street, Axminster, the grant will facilitate the purchase of the building which is the site where many early ‘Axminster’ carpets were manufactured over 200 years ago.

John Church, the Chairman of the project says a further £150,000 or more will have to be raised within the next twelve months to utilise the award and make the development a viable proposition. It should then be feasible to open a prototype of the Centre and relocate the current Axminster Museum within it. Due to dry rot in its current location in Church Street it is unlikely that the present Town Museum will be able to open this year and that makes the grant a particularly welcome windfall.

In addition the Tourist Information Centre have expressed an interest in the project and relocating into Thomas Whitty House.

Axminster County Cllr Douglas Hull said: "I am delighted that the project is to receive this funding. If we are able to get this centre going, it will be another attraction to bring people into Axminster. This would enhance not only the local shops but also the educational facilities in the town. It would be tremendous if we could get a permanent display of the marvellous carpets which we made here."

As funds become available the Heritage Centre will be developed further and it is envisaged that when the Centre is fully operational it could attract as many as 20,000 visitors to Axminster.

Last year in Thomas Whitty House, Axminster Heritage Limited presented a well received exhibition depicting the history of Axminster’s world famous carpet industry. It is proposed to develop the exhibition further this year and open for the summer season on Wednesday 27th May 2009 at 11.00am. Once again entrance to the exhibition will be free, although donations towards the future development will be most welcome.

As an additional attraction, commencing on Saturday 30th May and for the month of June a Farming Exhibition will be held in the Drill Hall adjacent to the carpet exhibition.

    return to news index  return to top

news

News: July 2008  Exhibition now open

The exhibition in Thomas Whitty House - located in Silver Street, Axminster - is now open to the public.

    Click here  click here for full details and opening times

    return to news index  return to top

news

News: June 2008  Exhibition to open on 2 July 2008

Exhibition to open on 2 July 2008 - click here for detailsThe work taking place in Axminster's historic Thomas Whitty House located in Silver Street is almost complete as Axminster Heritage Ltd counts down the days until the launch of its exhibition devoted to the development of the world famous Axminster carpet.

Opening on Wednesday 2nd July, the exhibition tells the story of how the market town of Axminster became the home of this now multi-million pound industry. As well as describing how carpets were manufactured, it also highlights where many of the original carpets made by Thomas Whitty are still in use today in the UK and abroad.

    return to news index  return to top

news

News: April 2008  Breaking News - Exhibition Plans

Country Life Magazine - 7 February 2008 issueCountry Life Magazine - 7 February 2008 issueInspired by the enthusiastic interest and support of local people for the Axminster Heritage Centre we are very pleased to be able to report that plans are well advanced to open a limited exhibition of the story of Axminster carpets at Thomas Whitty House in the old carpet manufactory this summer. A recent article in Country Life about the project has also encouraged us in the promotion of this vision.

    Click here  visit the Country Life Magazine website

proposed ground floor plan - click to enlargeWe have leased the front of the ground floor from the present owner - Axminster Carpets Ltd - and are employing Mr Robin Wade, who has an excellent reputation in the field of museum design, to assist us with the development.

In the longer term we have negotiated an option to purchase the Grade II listed building, which would enable us to relocate the present town museum, the Tourist Information Centre and displays to a single central site where there is room for development.

Country Life Magazine - 7 February 2008 issueWe have also been approached about the possibility of including in the exhibition a 250-year-old Axminster Carpet made at the original manufactory, together with other pieces of period furniture, so that we could recreate a Robert Adam setting at the Centre.

Watch this space for further news.

    return to news index  return to top

news

News: 15/1/07  Announcement: Honorary President of Axminster Heritage
We are delighted and honoured to announce that the Earl of Devon has agreed to become Honorary President of Axminster Heritage. Shortly after the appointment, Earl and Countess Devon visited Axminster Carpets and were given a tour of the factory hosted by Simon and Josh Dutfield.

Click to enlarge

The photograph shows Sir Neville Marriner, Patron, the Earl of Devon, Countess Devon, Lady Marriner, Laurence Hitchcock, Lady Polwarth examining the beauty of the end product with Josh Dutfield who led the guided tour.


    return to news index  return to top

news

News: 16/10/06  Tracking down possibly the most famous Axminster carpet of all!
We are trying to track down possibly THE MOST FAMOUS AXMINSTER CARPET OF ALL; in 1822 the famous Whitty factory produced what must have been one of the most remarkable carpets ever woven on a hand loom. It measured 74 feet x 52 feet, so both its size and weight to man handle at that time must have been incredible. We believe it was made for the Sultan of Turkey and was certainly layed in the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul; it depicted a blazing sun, the moon and a constellation of stars. For more information about the carpet,    Click here to read the full carpet article  click here to read our full article!

If anyone has any information or clues as to the whereabouts or even demise of this wonderful masterpiece could they please contact Fred Wells either by e-mail on    Fred Wells - click here to send email  fred@wellscarpetbroker.co.uk or telephone 0044 (0)1297 33771.

    return to news index  return to top

news

News: 11/08/06  Dissertation
Lady Susan Stern produced a 95 page dissertation for her MA Decorative Arts and Historic Interiors titled 'Craftsman, Innovator, Entrepreneur: Thomas Whitty and the English Carpet' which examines the role of Thomas Whitty of Axminster in the development of the English carpet in the second half of the Eighteenth Century.

    return to news index  return to top

news

News: 4/05/06  A list of seamless hand knotted Axminster carpets is being compiled
Brenda Rose, the leading authority on early Axminster carpets is compiling an up-to-date list of all seamless hand knotted Axminster carpets made between 1755 and 1835.

Brenda may be contacted directly on 01939 290778 and would be very pleased to hear from anyone with knowledge of such carpets and their location whether they are privately owned or in the public domain.

    return to news index  return to top

latest news
 
Order your copy today!

News: 22/03/06  The Sounds of Carpet Making
A CD compiled by Brian Vaughton depicting sounds and reminiscences of carpet making in the past is now available for just £7 (including delivery).

Please contact Brian directly on 01297 552171 for more information or to order your copy!


An audio documentary to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the making of the first Axminster carpet.
Track listing -


  Introduction, and history of carpets
2   Thomas Whitty was born in Honiton in 1716. Later he worked for his father in Axminster as a mercer. In London he saw some imported bales of Turkey carpet, and thought that he could make a loom to produce similar wares.
3   In 1755 he wove the first Axminster Carpet, and the Minster bells were rung. Carpets of distinction were displayed in the Congregational Church. In 1789 George III and Queen Charlotte came to Axminster to visit the carpet factory.
4   Examples of original Thomas Whitty carpet.
5   Thomas Whitty – “a remarkable man, to conceive carpets of flowers.” Thomas Whitty dies in 1792. Eventually, the business goes bankrupt in 1837. No carpets were then made in Axminster for 100 years.
6   Memories of old Axminster – “a little market town”.
7   How Harry Dutfield came to Axminster, to restart the carpet industry. 1937 – building starts on the present carpet factory, on a green field site. Staff are taken on, and the first small looms make carpet. The first girl weaver.
8   1939 – 45 war breaks out. Carpet making ceases. A workshop produces various parts for the war effort. American Army camp in Axminster – “lovely dance – wonderful times”.
9   The ‘Spotting Tent’ had no lights in it. Fun with the girls! Self-build bungalow for men returning from war service.
10   The designing of Axminster carpets.
11   Harry Dutfield – the man, and his character. Harry Dutfield gets married and has a son, Simon. The factory celebrates 50 years of carpet production.
12   Simon Dutfield takes over as MD – a career choice between farming or carpet making.
13   1960 – Harry Dutfield starts up a mill in New Zealand. The Drysdale breed of sheep is created. In 1976 some Drysdales are imported into the UK. The original plan was to use their wool for direct use in the making of Axminster carpets. Drysdales have to be sheared twice a year.
14   Buckfast Spinning Company. The mill handles the finest wool fleeces, and they are blended, dyed and spun into perfect carpet yarn. “Wool is nearly a living thing, without being too over-dramatic!”
15   Over the past 40 years the actual method of carpet making has changed very little, but looms are larger and faster. Comparisons with Thomas Whitty, when he was making hand-knotted carpets.
16   What is the future for Axminster Carpets? Axminster people should be proud of what Thomas Whitty did. There’s always going to be a need for Axminsters – “we make the best carpet!”
17   Credits

    return to news index  return to top

 

News: 22/03/06  Minster Church - two new bells
Two new bells for The Minster Church of St. Mary were specially commissioned as part of The Weavers' Tales celebrations in 2005 to commemorate the tremendous impact the two great weavers - Thomas Whitty and Harry Dutfield - have had on the growth and development of Axminster. The two new bells named the "Whitty" and "Dutfield" bells were hung in the Minster Church of St. Mary in February 2006 at the conclusion of major restoration works to the Tower of The Minster and it is planned for them to be rung for the first time at Eastertime.

Minster Church - two new bells    click here to view the Minster Bells gallery  click here to view photos

    return to news index  return to top
click here to view the Minster Bells gallery
 
 

News: 22/03/06  Clarence House Carpet Presentation
To commemorate 250 years of the first carpet being woven in the East Devon town of Axminster, HRH The Duchess of Cornwall accepted a replica of an original Axminster carpet on behalf of TRH The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall.

In keeping with tradition as King George III and Queen Charlotte had received an original Axminster carpet it was the wish of the people of Axminster in agreement with Axminster Carpets Ltd that a replica carpet should be given to the nation and Clarence House was proposed as a very worthy location for it to be seen in its full glory.

As a result on Thursday 27th October 2005 this generous gift was presented by representatives from the town led by Simon Dutfield, the current Chairman and Managing Director of Axminster Carpets Limited. It is hoped that the Axminster carpet will be kept on display at Clarence House where guests and visitors to the Prince of Wales' London residence will be able to admire in full, the exquisiteness of the carpet

Our photographer captured the essence of the day    click here to view the Clarence House gallery  click here to view our photo gallery

    return to news index  return to top

click here to view the Clarence House gallery
Pictured (L-R):
Josh Dutfield
(grandson of Harry Dutfield)

HRH the Dutchess of Cornwall

Nerys Dutfield
(wife of Simon Dutfield)

Simon Dutfield
(son of Harry Dutfield)

 
   
   axminsterheritage.org  >  background  |  aims  |  news  |  fund raising  |  articles  |  photos  |  contact