Wales and the history of the World. BBC1 Wales

 

I was asked by  BBC Wales to help them research & produce a copy of the very first patent for a sleeping bag. Patented by the Newtown entrepreneur Pryce Jones in 1876. Probably better known for starting the first mail order business in the world, Pryce Jones had a huge shop & warehouse built in 1890 near the Railway station. The buildings are still there & you cannot miss the enormous letters spelling out his name on the top of the shop. Once a very grand place with highly decorated features , some of which have been saved & are on display at Newtown Wool Museum.

 

Pryce jones has extra carriages provided by GWR with his name on the side in order to fulfill his mail order. He went on to become very important politically although his mail order business was soon copied & surpassed by other companies.

 

The outcome of our interpretation of his patented sleeping bag The euklesia rug was filmed with Eddie Butler at Newtown woollen Museum this week . The programme will form part of a series by BBC Wales called Wales in the World. It aims to show Wales` impact through the Industrial revolution on the rest of the world & is due to start in March 2010. Starts on March 10th at 19.30 on BBC 1 Wales. Pick it up on Iplayer if its not on your regional scheduling.

 

Our Euklesia rug will be presented to the Museum & will be on display next year.