The History of Axminster Carpets

In the latter part of the 18th Century, Thomas Whitty developed a method of hand-knotting carpets at Axminster in Devon. This hand-knotting method, which was very similar to Persian techniques, became known as 'Axminster' weaving. In 1835 the original Axminster carpet factory closed following a fire, and the surviving looms were purchased by the Wilton weavers. From this date forward, the Wilton carpet factory began to produce hand-knotted Axminster carpets alongside the Wilton weave; it is from these combined styles of production that the modern factory evolved.