Axminster Carpets

Whilst visiting Cheapside market in London, Devon-based weaver Thomas Whitty was impressed by a large Turkish carpet that he saw. Upon his return to Axminster, he used his weaving skills to work out how to produce a product of similar quality. After several months work, he completed his first carpet on midsummer's day in 1755. Whitty's carpets, looking much like horizontal tapestries, became the benchmark for wealthy aristocrats to have in their country homes and town houses, between 1755 and 1835. The company produced Axminster carpets for: the music room of the Royal Pavilion, Brighton; Chatsworth House; Powderham Castle; Saltram House; and Warwick Castle. King George III and Queen Charlotte purchased Axminster carpets and also visited the factory. ==Decline==

In 1828, a disastrous fire destroyed the weaving looms. In 1835, the company owner, Samuel Rampson Whitty, the founder's grandson, was declared bankrupt. Blackmores of Wilton, Wiltshire, near Salisbury, bought the remaining stock and looms and extended their business to include hand-knotted carpets, which were still called Axminsters. ==Refoundation==

, which was bought by Harry Dutfield post-World War II to overcome supply difficulties for woollen yarn In 1929, Kidderminster-resident Scottish-born carpet manufacturer Harry Dutfield founded a new carpet company with his former schoolfriend Stephen Quayle. However, as the depression hit, the company became beset by Union problems. Setting off for the 1935 London Motor Show to buy his first Jaguar car, Dutfield met a vicar on the train from the West Country, who told him that carpets had not been made in the town of Axminster since the 1828 fire. He persuaded the Southern Railway to extend its station at , and from 1937 lease him land on which to build a suitable factory. At the outbreak of World War II, Dutfield converted the factory to produce stirrup pumps and later aircraft parts, while Dutfield himself was an officer in the Home Guard. ==Present==

Today, Axminster Carpets is the only manufacturer to purchase, wash, card, spin and dye its own yarn before weaving the carpet itself. The modern Axminster-type power loom is capable of weaving high quality carpets with many varying colours and patterns, and is manufactured all over the world. Due to their hard-wearing and durable nature, Axminster carpets are most frequently used in country homes, luxury hotels, global airlines and train carriages. Every Wetherspoon pub has a bespoke designed carpet manufactured by Axminster. On 19 February 2020, it was announced that the company had gone into administration. However, it was bought out of administration in March 2020 by a group of investors, including the former owners. ==References==