29 October 2024
With the Teifi valley, just over the Pembrokeshire border, becoming the centre of the West Wales wool industry, earning itself the nickname “The Huddersfield of Wales”. This rich history has left a mark with museums, mills, galleries and old buildings waiting to be discovered and explored and Pembrokeshire is no exception.
There are just two working mills left in Pembrokeshire, both of which produce high quality Welsh fabric and blankets with their own distinctive style.
Melin Tregwynt
A white washed wool mill to be found in a remote wooded valley on the Pembrokeshire coast, there has been a mill at Melin Tregwynt since the 17th century. Local farmers would bring their fleeces to be spun into yarn and woven into fine Welsh wool blankets. Owned by the same family since 1912 it has now transitioned to an Employee Ownership Trust. Heralding a new spirit in Welsh design with exclusive wool blankets, throws and cushions, furniture, accessories and clothing, Melin Tregwynt combines authentic Welsh tradition with innovative and modern design.
Today the beautiful colours and innovative designs of Melin Tregwynt can be found in hip hotels and designer stores around the world. You won’t find them on the high street, so a trip to their shop on the Pembrokeshire coast is a must if you want to treat yourself. Stop off and watch the originally machinery operating in the workshop before browsing the shop and deciding on your next purchase over a cup of tea in the Mill’s cafe.
Solva Woollen Mill
Solva Woollen Mill is owned by Tom and Anna Grime and can be found on the banks of the River Solfach, a mile inland from the picturesque coastal village of Solva. The mill produces woven fabric on its historic looms as it has done for over 100 years. Tom has managed to keep the Dobcross looms working throughout his time at the Mill alongside organising the weaving, sorting out new designs and sourcing. Anna has spent time carefully transforming the mill shop to display their own woven rugs and runners. She has also chosen other products that reflect the ethos of the mill: that they must be made in the UK and fundamentally of good quality and resilience.
This is the only mill in Wales specialising in flat weave carpets and is a fascinating place to visit. Their rugs adorn royal homes, stately homes in the USA and Landmark Trust properties up and down the country. The place to go to furnish your floors, Solva Woollen Mill has become a hidden treasure, tucked in a valley in West Wales. People travel from all over the world to visit this special little place and to experience a small piece of Welsh history.
Pembrokeshire designers
Monkstone Knitwear
Perched on the cliffs between Saundersfoot and Tenby is a story about a farmer and a designer in pursuit of sustainability. Dotted around Richard Reed’s farm are a flock of sheep that provide local designer Anna Felton with a steady supply of wool for her homegrown enterprise Monkstone Knitwear. Having worked with companies such as Hiut Denim, howies, and Charlie Brear, Anna only designs a few products each shearing season based on the amount of fleece she gets and the colours of the yarns. Every piece she creates has been farm tested. Tried and tested in Welsh weather, working hard to last for years to come. Wool is the most hardy and reliablefibre there is. She believes that each product will be a classic that will last for years to come, passed down to the next generation like an heirloom. When you place an order it will take around four weeks to hand make the garment. Alternatively, there is some stock ready to ship, these are marked in the shop section on their website.
Susie’s Sheepskin Boots
Susie Lincon has been making sheepskin boots in the beautiful little market town of Narberth since 1979. For over thirty years a steady flow of warm, woolly boots has been making the procession out the door and across the country, to adorn frozen feet from John O’Groats to Lands End and beyond.
Your boots will be tailor-made for you. Your choice in length, colour and style. Simply pop into the shop or give Susie a ring for a treat that your feet will thank you for, for years to come.
Sian O’Doherty textile designer
Sian O’Doherty is an award-winning textile artist and designer creating beautiful and unique knitted fabrics for garments, accessories and interior styling. Her textile designs reflect the rich cultural heritage of Wales as well as the spectacular and varied landscapes. Sian hosts a variety of workshops in textiles and also works with other creators to bring a wide range of courses to her workshop near Saundersfoot.
She is also a fabulous cook and the adjoining cafe is well worth a visit too.
Rosie Jacobs Designs
Based in a loft in St Davids, Rosie has a passion for wool and British heritage style. Working in British wool and tweeds, Rosie design scarfs from the warps and wefts from the British textile mills. Designed for a contemporary lifestyle, the snoods use volumes of fabric to create discrete secure pockets for phones and cards.
If our collective of woollen designers has inspired you to create then we have two more places for you to explore before you leave Pembrokeshire:
Janes of Fishguard
Janes of Fishguard is the unique combination of a modern wool, craft and contemporary coffee shop. Stop off, have a bite to eat, enjoy a refreshing beverage and browse the extensive range of knitting yarns, crafts, beads, jewellery making supplies and haberdashery.
Penbanc Fabrics, Newport
Penbanc Fabrics is bursting at the seams – this place is a treasure chest of fabric with a massive selection that will keep your creative side going for months.
We hope we have whetted your appetite for all things woolly and made in Pembrokeshire!
