September

Visit to Newtown textile Museum

On Saturday, 24" September, a group of us Visited the Textile Museum in Newtown. This interesting trip gave us a chance to see how the handloom weavers of the mid-19" century lived and worked.

The Textile Museum is situated at 5-7 Commercial Street in Newtown and the building is a fine example of a typical early 19th century weaving shop. Originally there were six back-to-back cottages on the two lower floors, with two loom floors running the length of the building above.

The six tiny cottages would have housed a family each. Over the years many of these families would have worked in the weaving shop on the two floors above, either as handloom weavers or with associated work. Hard, dusty and often dangerous work.

The museum now has one floor dedicated to showing looms, spinning wheels and the processes involved in turning fleece into flannel. The top floor has exhibits of local businesses including Pryce Jones, one of the early pioneers in mail order. There are also displays of the businesses and shops of the town over the centuries. The lower floors show recreated rooms, and further information on the history of the town and its people.

Photos, in no particular order, taken by Helen and Janet.

On the way home, we all enjoyed a tasty meal at the Horseshoes Inn.