| Company type | Private company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Carpet manufacture |
| Founded | Axminster, Devon (1755) |
| Founder | Thomas Whitty |
| Headquarters | Axminster ,England |
Area served | Global |
Key people | Harry Dutfield |
| Products | Carpets |
Number of employees | 130 |
| Website | Axminster-Carpets.co.uk |
Axminster Carpets Ltd is anAxminster, Devon based English manufacturer of carpets, particularly the same-namedAxminster carpets.
Whilst visitingCheapside Market,London, Devon-basedweaverThomas Whitty was impressed by a largeTurkish carpet he saw. On his return to Axminster, he used his skills to work out how to produce a product of similar quality. After several months work he completed his first carpet onmidsummer's day 1755.[1]
Whitty's carpets, looking much like horizontal-tapestries, became the benchmark for wealthy aristocrats to have in their country homes and town houses, between 1755 and 1835. The company produced Axminster carpets for: the music room of theRoyal Pavilion,Brighton;Chatsworth House;Powderham Castle;Saltram House; andWarwick Castle.King George III and QueenCharlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz purchased Axminster carpets and also visited the factory.[1]
In 1800, the company made a 74-by-52-foot (23 m × 16 m) carpet forMahmud II, theSultan of the Ottoman Empire, known today as the most famous Axminster Carpet of all. Depicting a blazing sun, moon and a whole constellation of stars, it cost £1000 (equivalent to £101,984 in 2023). Carried out of the factory by thirty men from the local Congregational Church, it was initially placed in theTopkapi Palace. It was then moved to theDefterdar Palace, where it became the property of Esma Sultan, the daughter of SultanMustapha III.[2]
In 1828, a disastrous fire destroyed theweavinglooms. In 1835 the company owner, Samuel Rampson Whitty, the founder's grandson, was declared bankrupt. Blackmores ofWilton, Wiltshire, nearSalisbury, bought the remaining stock and looms and extended their business to include hand-knotted carpets, which were still called Axminsters.[1]
In July 2012, Axminster Heritage Ltd bought the nowGrade II listed former original carpet factory in which Thomas Whitty founded the company and wove the first carpets. It now houses the town's heritage centre, incorporating the town museum and thetourist information centre.[3]
In 1929,Kidderminster-residentScottish-born carpet manufacturer Harry Dutfield founded a new carpet company with his former schoolfriend Stephen Quayle. However, as the depression hit, the company became beset by Union problems. Setting off for the 1935London Motor Show to buy his firstJaguar car, Dutfield met a vicar on the train from theWest Country, who told him that carpets had not been made in the town of Axminster since the 1828 fire.[4]
Returning home, Dutfield formulated abusiness plan to move his company to Axminster and relaunch Axminster Carpets Ltd.[5] He persuaded theSouthern Railway to extend its station atAxminster, and from 1937 lease him land on which to build a suitable factory.[6]
At the outbreak ofWorld War II, Dutfield converted the factory to producestirrup pumps and later aircraft parts, while Dutfield himself was an officer in theHome Guard.[4]
After hostilities ceased, and with severe shortages of raw materials, keen fisherman Dutfield bought a woollen mill atBuckfast, nearBuckfastleigh, which came withsalmonfishing rights on theRiver Dart.[4] This enabled Dutfield to establish the company on its original basis, being the complete "from fleece to floor" carpet maker.[5]
After handing over day-to-day running of the company to his son Simon, Dutfield semi-retired from the company to pursue his hobby of fishing. Awarded an MBE for his services to British exports, Dutfield died at his home in Axminster on 21 May 1999.[4]
Today, Axminster Carpets is the only manufacturer to purchase, wash, card, spin and dye its own yarn before weaving the carpet itself.[7]
To celebrate 250 years of carpet weaving in Axminster, in 2005 a commemorative rug was produced. Paraded by the company's weavers through the town, it was then blessed by theBishop of Exeter and presented to theEarl of Devon. The carpet is now inClarence House, the then home ofKing Charles III.[7] Also in 2012, Axminster was awarded aRoyal Warrant for the supply of goods and services to the Royal Household.[7][8]
The modern Axminster-type power loom is capable of weaving high quality carpets with many varying colours and patterns, and is manufactured all over the world. Due to their hard-wearing and durable nature, Axminster carpets are most frequently used in country homes, luxury hotels, global airlines and train carriages.[7] EveryWetherspoon pub has a bespoke designed carpet manufactured by Axminster.[9]
On 19 February 2020 it was announced that the company had gone into administration.[10] However it was bought out of administration in March 2020 by a group of investors including the former owners.
.svg)
