Friday 3 August 2012

Weaving and Rambling


I have recently acquired an old guidebook to Haslemere, The Rambler's Guide to Haslemere, Hindhead and District, and I was interested to see the advert on the opening front leaf of the book for the Haslemere Weaving Industry.  There is no publication date, but it is probably c. 1928, judging from the statement that "this industry, established over 30 years" and the reference to "the late Mrs Maude E. King" later in the book.

Haslemere Weaving Industry advert from
The Rambler's Guide to Haslemere, Hindhead and District
Under a section titled 'Industry' the guidebook reads "The idea of keeping alive traditional handicrafts in the vital industries and bringing art into the service, not only of luxury, but of every-day life has inspired various activities and workers in Haslemere for more than a generation.  It still persists in various ways,notably in the Hand-weaving Industries of the Peasant Arts Society in King's Road and of the Inval Weavers.  The former, founded in 1895 by the late Mrs Maude E. King, specializes in linen and cotton textiles; the latter are famed for their woollen materials, especially dress fabrics; but each can show a wide range and variety of beautiful weavings, which visitors can always see being woven and worked up".

Haslemere map from
The Rambler's Guide to Haslemere, Hindhead and District
with the Weaving Industry labelled as number 10
from
The Rambler's Guide to Haslemere, Hindhead and District





Haslemere adverts from
The Rambler's Guide to Haslemere, Hindhead and District

Electricity advert from
The Rambler's Guide to Haslemere, Hindhead and District






4 comments:

  1. This again shows the prominence of the Peasant Arts and their weaving reinforcing their importance to Haslemere a hundred years or so ago-Well done you for tracking down this Guide!

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  2. What a lucky find. I didn't realize that the Peasant Arts carried on for so long. I was intrigued by the Keltic Burial Field too (my Archaeology bump came to the fore).

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  3. Thanks. It's amazing what you can find on eBay if you're bored enough! Yes I need to check out the burial mound...I wonder if it's now in a front garden.

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