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MAKER OF THE DAY

Whitchurch Silk Mill

Whitchurch Silk Mill is a gem of industrial heritage located in rural Hampshire, on the banks of the River Test. Built in 1815 and now a working museum, it is the oldest Silk Mill in the UK still weaving silk in its original building. Our small team of highly skilled Weaver Tacklers wind, warp and weave beautiful, artisan cloth using traditional methods and historic machinery to keep critically endangered silk weaving skills alive.
From winding bobbins, to hand twisting up to 10,996 ends of a new warp, each time consuming step of the production process is done with care and attention to detail, to ensure a beautifully crafted end result. Developing thoughtful collections of Limited Edition silk scarves, every one has it’s own story; whether that be quirks of the historical machinery, marks of the talented maker whose nurtured it through production to hand finishing, customers can purchase knowing it is one of a kind.
Silk Weaving has now been listed as an endangered craft. WSM is one of only three Silk Mills left in the UK, the only one within Hampshire and across the South. Silk ribbon has been listed as critically endangered, with just four silk ribbon weavers left in the UK, one of them employed at Whitchurch Silk Mill, making our products even more unique.

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The Capital of Craft Podcast with Cathryn Gwynn

Craft Festival Wales Special

I met Cathryn Gwynn at her home studio in Cilgerran, a village near Cardigan in West Wales. 

Her early life in Cardiff led her to a career in writing, editing and finally teaching at Preseli School. She later began an access course in art, leading to a degree in Textiles from Carmarthen School of Art in 2020.

Text, texture and textile: three words which reflect sher practice as a mixed-media artist. She is drawn to thread, pen, ink and paper and work somewhere on the cusp of these materials.

Cathryn Wynn will be giving an illustrated talk about her work at The Capital of Craft at Craft Festival Wales at Cardigan Castle. 

Her work is part of an exhibition of 8 important Welsh makers at Canfas Gallery in Cardigan. Woven, curated by Suzi Park from Cambrian Wool, runs from September 5-October 5th. 

Craft Festival Wales September 5-7, 2025

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Award Winning Festivals

Since 2003 we have run multi-award winning Festivals in Bovey Tracey, Devon, Cardigan and Cheltenham. In June, we host the UK's best loved and finest contemporary Craft Festival in Bovey Tracey featuring over 200 curated makers. Hosted in idyllic parkland on the edge of Dartmoor. Complimented by an dazzling number of workshops, demonstrations, masterclasses, talks, family activities, street theatre, live music and feasting! In March we head to the beautiful Regency town of Cheltenham, presenting 100 makers at Craft Festival at the Town Hall. In September we will be hosting our first Craft Festival Wales at Cardigan Castle.

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