250 Years - Axminster Carpets

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The town of Axminster recently celebrated 250 years of carpet making by honouring Axminsters two great carpet weavers, Thomas Whitty and Harry Dutfield.

The original Axminster Carpet Factory was founded by Thomas Whitty in 1755. Carpets from Axminster quickly became the undisputed choice for wealthy English country homes and town houses. Axminster Carpets were

found in Chatsworth House and Brighton Pavillion as well as being bought by Kind George III and Queen Charlotte who also visited the factory.

102 years later a carpet manufacturer called Harry Dutfield was on a train where he met a vicar with a heavy West Country accent who told him that carpets hadn’t been made in Axminster for a while due to a disastrous fire that had destroyed the original factory. The germ of an idea was born and in 1937 the decision was taken to relaunch carpet manufacturing in the town of Axminster.

This was the renaissance of ‘Axminsters from Axminster’. Axminster Carpets Ltd continues the proud tradition of making the finest carpets in the world. Carpets from Axminster can be found in royal residences, in some of the finest hotels in the world, in train carriages, on the aircraft of major global airlines and in thousands of descerning homes up and down the country.

To celebrate 250 years of carpet weaving in Axminster a commemorative rug was produced. Re-enacting history the carpet was paraded by the weavers of Axminster Carpets through the town to the Minster Church where it was blessed by the Bishop of Exeter and then presented to the Earl of Devon, who was representing the Queen. The final resting place will be at Clarence House, the home of HRH the Prince of Wales.

A Weavers Tales CD has also been produced which is available for purchase. The CD is an audio documentary (not visual) charting the history of Axminster Carpets Ltd since it the carpet industry was relaunched in Axminster in 1937 by Harry Dutfield.

If you would like to purchase the CD, please send a cheque or postal order for £7.00 made out to Axminster Carpets Ltd.
Please send your cheque or postal order to:

Lawrence Hitchcock
Axminster Carpets Ltd
Woodmead Road
Axminster
Devon
EX13 5PQ

Harry Dutfield Commemorative Lansdowne rug being paraded through Axminster Image on left: Axminster Carpets Ltd provides carpets for British Airways Ba logo