By Nigel Sadler

Manager, Axminster Heritage Centre

Axminster Heritage Centre is undertaking important conservation work on a rug believed to have been made in the Thomas Whitty Axminster carpet manufactory in the late 1700s.

The rug was donated to the heritage centre in October 2022 by Barry Ebdon, who had recently rediscovered it in his loft, where it had been stored for over 30 years.

It had been a prize possession of his grandmother, Lydia Bull, and family folklore has it that Lydia's husband, Frederick, who was a farrier/blacksmith on South Street, Axminster, had been given the rug in lieu of a debt in the 1930s.

The rug is an important addition to the story of Georgian carpet making in Axminster.

There is a lot known about the Whitty family-made Axminster carpets that adorn the floors of majestic stately homes, but what about local homes of the middle classes that might be able to afford a rug rather than a carpet?

The heritage centre, along with Mr Ebdon, is trying to piece together how the carpet might have ended up in the home of a working-class family and from which family or house it came from.

It is clear that the rug was well loved by Lydia Bull as a functioning floor covering. It is well worn and has burns from a fire place and has undergone a lot of repairs.

These repairs and damages are part of the story of the rug and the heritage centre is trying to preserve this evidence of use.

The rug had to undergo two washes by the conservation team before the delicate conservation work to secure the weaves on the rug and stop the holes getting bigger.

During late April and early May, a conservator has been in the heritage centre carrying out work on the rug in the gallery. Visitors have been able to see her delicate work and ask her questions.

She will be in the gallery again today (Thursday) and tomorrow (Friday, May 12) and hopefully the following Thursday and Friday finishing off the initial work.

If you are local residents to Axminster (EX13 postcodes) you will be able to gain free entry to the museum on these days between 10am and 4pm to see the rug being worked on.

Axminster Heritage Centre has been fortunate to have been given a grant to cover some of the conservation costs through the On Display programme awarded by South West Museum Development, with thanks to support from Arts Council England.