FROME Society for Local Study has published a book about the market town’s 600-year heritage of woven cloth and indigo dye extracted from the woad plant.
‘Woad To This & The Cloth Trade of Frome’ is written by Carolyn Griffiths. It is beautifully illustrated with full page pictures of the trade’s industrial artefacts, especially the 18th century dye recipe books, formerly belonging to Welshmill and Wallbridge mills. This fascinating social history narrative evolved from more than four years of research, delving into local, county and national archives. The result is a book that spans the woad and cloth trade of Frome from 1333 until the start of the industrial revolution.
This project has been a change of direction for Carolyn Griffiths who had previously curated the excellent ‘Blue’ events and exhibitions in the town which were enjoyed by hundreds of visitors. She grew woad in the garden of the Blue House for community dye vats, organised talks by Dr Jenny Balfour-Paul, the world leading authority on indigo and Dr David Hill, retired University of Bristol professor and a member of an EC-funded project researching indigo extraction from woad. She also raised money for charity with woad projects such as the ‘cloak of invisibility’ and blue thread events.
However, Carolyn has not strayed that far from her passion for blue. The idea for the book arose from the opportunity to display one of Frome’s very rare ‘Dyed in the Wool’ sample books held in the Bath archives. Shown at exhibitions in Rook Lane Chapel and in the iconic drying stove building of the Black Swan Arts Centre, this industrial legacy of Frome’s cloth trade deserves to be shared with a wider audience.
‘Woad To This & The Cloth Trade of Frome’ is a short print run available directly from FSLS. This substantial 8 ½ x 11in book of 280 pages, would make a wonderful present for anyone interested in the town, the social and industrial history of the cloth trade, or textiles.
There are several ways to purchase a copy, please visit www.woadtothis.com or www.fsls.org.uk for information, or contact Alastair MacLeay, Prospect House, Trudoxhill, Frome, Somerset BA11 5DP – tel 01373 836 595 or e-mail info@fsls.org.uk
Copies will also be for sale on Sunday 3rd December at the Frome Textile Workshop Christmas sale at The Sunday School off Catherine Hill. (The book costs £24.00 plus p&p if required, cash or cheques will be appreciated).
