Violet stripes.

One of my favourite mills in close to us here at Ty Zinc, some 10 miles as the crow flies. The very blankets that kick started a fascination in the woollen Industry & prompted a collection.

From a rural hand weaving Mill in Cilcennin . Which was rented by The Thomas Family from about 1870 from the local mansion house : Ty Mawr. Part of a 60 acre small holding , this venture was a secondary business to the farm. Being run in between the busy months of farming ; outside hay making & lambing. It employed one apprentice ( from Bristol Workhouse). Using only narrow width hand looms. The Thomas`s never modernised. Producing a variety of heavy 2 ply blanceddi & carthenni for two generations. When John Thomas left for London to make his fortune from Milk deliveries ( like so many Ceredigion farmers) the mill was passed to his son Ben.

Ben continued to weave the same patterns: plain blankets & striped carthenni. Mostly unfringed & with a a spectrum of early German analine dyes. Violets, Strawberry Red & yellow figure prominantly in their colour combinations.A border design of wider bands along the two long sides, with the main body of each carthen having narrower & muted bands alternating vertically. Machine sewn ends.

The mill also produced some flannel & tweed with Ben Thomas proudly driving to London to present his tweed suit for HRH Prince of Wales on his investiture.

Here we have a trio of typical Cilcennin Mill blankets C1920. A heavy ply of mixed Welsh breeds in undyed Cream with Violet & Damson coloured border stripes, Lavender & Natural Grey creating some extra detail. All clean & unmarked with some neat darns. Centre seams intact & sewn by hand.

Contemporary textiles, highly collectable & beautiful to look at.

Choose yours from the drop down boxes.

Each measures approx 78" x 64" ( 200cm x 164cm)