WEAVING wonders

Discover the mills where our tradition of crafting fine textiles is flourishing

- MICHELLE ROWLEY

The heyday of British weaving may have peaked back in the 19th century, but there are still some fabulous mills, weavers and craftspeople dedicated to the traditional skills of yesteryear.

Stunning silks

Set within the original Georgian building of England's oldest silk mill, Whitchurch Silk Mill museum in Hampshire is home to a unique heritage attraction showcasing the art of silk weaving. Using traditional 19th-century machinery, the working museum still produces quality silk products as well as bespoke commissions, including the ribbons on Kate Winslet's hat in the blockbuster Titanic.

In 1819, with the silk trade booming, 130 workers were employed at the mill. In the past, it has crafted all sorts of silk wonders, from academic gowns to the linings for Burberry raincoats, and even the silk for the late Princess Diana's wedding dress.

The mill was bought and restored in the 1980s by the Hampshire Buildings Preservation Trust and later helped by a National Lottery Grant, which now preserves the artistry of silk weaving through its training and museum.

For more information and visiting times, go to whitchurchsilkmill.org.uk

BEAUTIFUL BROCADES

Gainsborough Weaving produces some of the world's finest furnishing fabrics and has an archive of more than 7,000 luxurious fabric samples that tells a riveting history dating back to 1903. It's based in Sudbury, Suffolk, which has been at the centre of British weaving since the arrival of Huguenot weavers in the 19th century.