Axminster
Axminster is a small town in the southwestern English county of Devon. The city is located on a hill overlooking the River Axe.
Economic backbone of the city is carpet production, which has a good reputation worldwide.
Every Thursday there is a street market in Axminster.
Axminster carpet
In Axminster weaving loom for a high quality carpet production was developed. Thomas Whitty in 1755 founded a carpet factory in the town. Carpets from Axminster have as an identifying mark on red cotton, which is sewn on the bottom of the carpet edges. The carpets were made of wool with a symmetrical node on woolen chain and intermediate weft of flax or hemp. The pattern was similar to the carpets of the Savonnerie or floral. These rugs met the taste of the rich nobility and were soon to see everywhere in the country houses. The factory closed in 1835 with the advent of industrial weaving. Harry Dutfield began in 1937 with the construction of a new factory. Today, they have teamed up with Wilton Carpets.
The name Axminster Carpet is available for all rugs with a velvety surface. By Polkratzen and scissors, a uniform surface is obtained, which shine, feel and appearance of the product can be improved. Today we group under the name of three different production methods together:
- Chenille Axminster,
- Royal Axminster and
- Gripper Axminster, where the weave of the gripper Axminster is the most important and most common manufacturing processes.