Newtown and district
The flannel industry
  Making cloth around Newtown  

 

Welsh
mountain
sheep

Woollen cloth had been woven in the area for hundreds of years before Queen Victoria came to the throne. The hardy Welsh sheep on the upland pastures provided the fleeces to make hardwearing flannel, and Montgomeryshire's streams provided the soft water for washing the fleeces and powering some of the machinery.
The development of cloth weaving into an industry happened over the period 1790 to 1840. Although there was something of a decline after that, flannel was still very important to local people throughout Victoria's reign.

Choose from the topics below to find out more.


Click on the image above
to find out more about the
ROYAL WELSH WAREHOUSE
and its part in the
flannel industry
 
From sheep to loom
Working the hand-looms
 
 
Working conditions
A steam powered industry
 
 
The end of the industry
   
 

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