Threads: Belonging and Unbelonging Exhibition Research 🧵

As part of my research module, I was invited by my lecturer to contribute a blog post to the university website, exploring my findings on Gloucestershire’s textile trade during the 18th and 19th centuries. As part of the Gloucester Folk Museum's Exhibition - Threads: Belonging and Unbelonging.

My research focused on the wool industry in and around Gloucester, particularly the ‘five valleys’ of Stroudwater, Little Avon/Doverte Brook and the Ewelme/Cam, which supported around 200 mills during the early Industrial Revolution. Families such as the Webbs, Capels, Arundels, Sewells and Clutterbucks played key roles in this transition from domestic to industrial production.

One example, Can Mill, became a highly successful operation with its own electricity supply and railway system. Meanwhile, mills such as Longford, Cam, Lodgemore, and Fromehall were brought together under a single holding company, yet continued to operate independently.

Innovation was also shaped by the Ferrabee Ironworks in Thrupp, which patented automatic looms. However, due to the lack of local manufacturers, Gloucestershire’s mills often turned to Yorkshire to purchase power looms. These factories largely relied on streams and rivers, using waterwheels and turbines, before evolving into metal-powered machinery.

🧐 Insight Gained:

• 🧵 How Gloucestershire’s wool industry shifted from domestic production to large-scale industrial operations.

• ⚙️ The influence of families such as the Webbs, Capels, Arundels, Sewells and Clutterbucks in expanding the industry.

• 🚂 The integration of electricity and railway systems at mills like Can Mill to boost productivity.

• 🪵 The role of water power (wheels/turbines) and the later shift to metal machinery

• 🧩 The connections between Gloucestershire and Yorkshire mills through the trade and purchase of power looms.

This project deepened my understanding of industrial heritage, curatorial decision-making, and exhibition design. It gave me first-hand experience in transforming research into an engaging narrative for public audiences—skills that are highly relevant to my future work in collections, curation, and exhibitions.

I’m excited to keep building on these research skills as I continue my volunteering with Sheffield Museums Trust [2025], and pursue future opportunities in the heritage sector.

💡 Enjoyed this post? Subscribe!

✨ Learn more about my work and aspirations here: My Portfolio