Cambrian Woollen Mill, just north of

Llanwrtyd Wells Llanwrtyd Wells ( "church of St Gwrtud") is a market town and community (Wales), community in Powys, Wales, in the historic counties of Wales, historic county of Brecknockshire (Breconshire) on the Afon Irfon. The town is on the A483 road, A483 ...

, Powys, is one of the few remaining operational woollen mills in

Wales Wales ( ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by the Irish Sea to the north and west, England to the England–Wales border, east, the Bristol Channel to the south, and the Celtic ...

. It is known for its line of Welsh

tartan Tartan or plaid ( ) is a patterned cloth consisting of crossing horizontal and vertical bands in multiple colours, forming repeating symmetrical patterns known as ''setts''. Originating in woven wool, tartan is most strongly associated wi ...

s. The building dates to 1820.

History

The Cambrian Mill is situated beside the

Afon Irfon Afon Irfon (the River Irfon) is a river in Powys, Wales. It flows from the upper slopes of Bryn Garw in the Cambrian Mountains, through the Abergwesyn Valley, past the Nant Irfon National Nature Reserve in the hills above the village of Abergw ...

on the edge of

Mynydd Epynt Mynydd Epynt () is an upland region of Mid Wales, within the county of Powys. It is bounded on the south by the upper stretch of the Usk Valley, on the north by the Irfon Valley, and on the east by the Wye Valley. Its western boundary is less ...

and the

Cambrian Mountains The Cambrian Mountains (, in a narrower sense: ''Elenydd'') are a series of mountain ranges in Wales. The term ''Cambrian Mountains'' used to apply to most of the upland of Wales, and comes from the country's Latin name . Since the 1950s, it ...

. The

Brecon Beacons The Brecon Beacons (; ) are a mountain range in Wales. The range includes South Wales's highest mountain, Pen y Fan (), its twin summit Corn Du (), and Craig Gwaun Taf (), which are the three highest peaks in the range. The Brecon Beacons ha ...

and Carmarthen Fans lie to the south. The building dates to 1820, when it opened as a corn mill, which was converted to a Welsh

flannel Flannel is a soft woven fabric, of varying fineness. Flannel was originally made from carded wool or worsted yarn, but is now often made from either wool, cotton, or synthetic fiber. Flannel is commonly used to make tartan clothing, blankets, ...

weaving mill. The mill carded, dyed, spun and wove local wool, using water power until about 1860. Before

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

(1939–45) the mill supplied woollen products to Queen Mary and

Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Elizabeth Angela Marguerite Bowes-Lyon (4 August 1900 – 30 March 2002) was Queen of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 to 6 February 1952 as the wife of King George VI. She was al ...

. It has been visited by

Elizabeth II Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 19268 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until Death and state funeral of Elizabeth II, her death in 2022. ...

(before her accession to the throne) and

Charles, Prince of Wales Charles III (Charles Philip Arthur George; born 14 November 1948) is King of the United Kingdom and the 14 other Commonwealth realms. Charles was born at Buckingham Palace during the reign of his maternal grandfather, King George VI, a ...

. The woollen industry in Wales declined in the 20th century, partly due to competition from more modern English mills. The Cambrian mill is one of a handful of mills that are left. File:Cambrian Woollen Mill, Llanwrtyd (1294049).jpg, Mill exterior, early 20th century File:Textile machinery at Cambrian Factory, Llanwrtyd (1293828).jpg, Textile machinery in the 1940s File:Textile machinery at Cambrian Factory, Llanwrtyd (1293993).jpg, Textile machinery in the 1940s

Today

The mill produces blankets, throws, scarves, ties, hats and fabric. It also designs and weaves 37 Welsh tartans. The mill weaves all the wool cloth for the Welsh Tartan Centre. The mill has a tea and gift shop, a crafts studio and an exhibit of historical weaving in Wales. In 2014 Hefin Jones of Cardigan designed a pressurized space suit made from Welsh wool supplied by Cambrian Woollen Mill as well as Melin Tregwynt, Melin Teifi and the National Wool Museum.

Notes

Sources

* * * * * * * {{authority control Textile mills in Wales Woollen mills Buildings and structures in Powys Tourist attractions in Powys Llanwrtyd Wells