BBC - A History of the World - Object : The last 'Kidderminster' weave carpet

The last piece of 'Kidderminster' flat weave reversible carpet woven in Kidderminster © The Carpet Museum Trust

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Carpet weaves are known by the place of origin eg. Wilton but little is known of 'Kidderminster' woven from 1735 to 1932John Pearsall and John Broom were Stuff weavers. They are credited as being the first weavers of 'Kidderminster' carpet In 1735. It was a coarse flat weave woven mainly with woollen yarns, patterned with the design visible on both sides in reverse colours. In this way the carpet was reversible on the floor. It was more affordable than the expensive hand-knotted or pile carpets available only to the wealthy and was instrumental in bringing carpet to a wider market.
The opening of the Staffordshire & Worcestershire canal gave access to world-wide export and so, Kidderminster at the heart of the country, soon became the Woven Carpet Capital of the World.
The Kidderminster company T.&A Naylor Ltd. were established power-loom weavers of 'Kidderminster' but in 1932 when moving premises they decided it was time to discontinue the product because of a declining market. In 1932 their looms wove the last length of 'Kidderminster'.

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2 comments
1. At 18:52 on 19 April 2012, Clematis478 wrote:
I'm tracing my family (Pearsall) before 1813. Have you any more information on John Pearsall and his family who started carpet weaving in Kidderminster?
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2. At 12:33 on 25 October 2012, MakeNet wrote:
Innovations like this make such a difference. Kidderminster is being hit hard by the recession. Innovation is the only way to change things - Lets re-invent Kidderminster. Lets make things that people want. I hope the museum will show what is possible by showing what has been done in the past. Start here: www.make-net.org
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