Axminster Carpets

Axminster Carpets is an English carpet manufacturer associated with the Axminster method of producing richly patterned, durable woven floor coverings. The company is based in Axminster, Devon, the town that gave its name to the wider Axminster carpet tradition. Its history combines an eighteenth-century origin in hand weaving with a twentieth-century industrial revival and a modern focus on premium carpets for residential, hospitality, transport and institutional settings. The company's origin is traced to Devon weaver Thomas Whitty. After seeing a large Turkish carpet in London's Cheapside market, Whitty sought to reproduce its appearance and quality using his own weaving skills. After several months of experimentation, he completed his first carpet in Axminster on Midsummer's Day in 1755. His work became sufficiently prestigious that Axminster carpets were installed in prominent aristocratic residences, including Chatsworth House, Powderham Castle, Saltram House and Warwick Castle. The Royal Pavilion in Brighton also received an Axminster carpet, while King George III and Queen Charlotte purchased carpets and visited the factory. The early business reached an important international milestone in 1800 when it produced a very large carpet for Mahmud II, Sultan of the Ottoman Empire. Measuring approximately 74 by 52 feet, the carpet depicted a sun, moon and stars and was initially placed in Istanbul's Topkapi Palace. The scale and decoration of this commission illustrate the company's position in the luxury market during the period when hand-made Axminster carpets were fashionable among wealthy households and royal or aristocratic patrons. The original enterprise declined after a major fire destroyed its weaving looms in 1828. In 1835, Samuel Rampson Whitty, Thomas Whitty's grandson and the company's owner, was declared bankrupt. Blackmores of Wilton acquired the remaining stock and looms and continued to sell hand-knotted carpets under the Axminster name. Carpet production therefore ceased in the original town for many decades, although the name remained associated with a distinctive premium carpet tradition. The brand was revived in the twentieth century by Scottish-born manufacturer Harry Dutfield. In 1929, Dutfield and Stephen Quayle established a carpet company in Kidderminster. After learning in 1935 that carpets had not been made in Axminster since the nineteenth-century fire, Dutfield developed a plan to relocate the business and restore the name to its original town. He secured railway and land arrangements, and a new factory was established in Axminster from 1937. During the Second World War, the factory was converted to production of stirrup pumps and later aircraft components. After the war, Dutfield acquired a woollen mill at Buckfast near Buckfastleigh, enabling the business to control more stages of production, from processing fleece through yarn manufacture to carpet weaving. The modern company positions itself around craftsmanship, durability, bespoke design and British production. It states that it purchases, washes, cards, spins and dyes its own yarn before weaving the carpet. Axminster-type power looms can create complex patterns using many colours, while the resulting carpets are suited to demanding environments. The company's carpets have been used in country houses, luxury hotels, airlines, railway carriages and public venues. It is also associated with bespoke carpet designs for Wetherspoon pubs. The company marked 250 years of carpet weaving in Axminster in 2005 with a commemorative rug that was paraded through the town, blessed by the Bishop of Exeter and presented to the Earl of Devon. The rug was subsequently placed in Clarence House. In 2012, Axminster Carpets received a Royal Warrant for supplying goods and services to the Royal Household. The same year, Axminster Heritage acquired the former original factory, a Grade II listed building, for use as a heritage centre incorporating a museum and tourist information facilities. Axminster Carpets entered administration in February 2020. In March 2020, a group of investors, including the former owners, bought the business out of administration. The transaction preserved the operating brand and its manufacturing identity, although the available reference material does not specify the current corporate ownership structure or later financial performance.

Axminster Carpets traces its identity to Thomas Whitty, a Devon weaver who began developing high-quality carpets in Axminster after seeing a Turkish carpet in London's Cheapside market. Following months of experimentation, Whitty completed his first carpet on Midsummer's Day in 1755. His work was visually comparable to horizontal tapestry and became a luxury product for aristocratic homes and important public interiors. Between 1755 and 1835, Axminster carpets were supplied to several notable British residences. Recorded destinations include the Royal Pavilion in Brighton, Chatsworth House, Powderham Castle, Saltram House and Warwick Castle. King George III and Queen Charlotte were also customers and visited the factory. The original company's international reputation was reinforced in 1800 by a commission for Mahmud II, Sultan of the Ottoman Empire. The carpet, measuring approximately 74 by 52 feet, depicted a blazing sun, moon and constellation of stars. It was initially installed at Topkapi Palace before later becoming associated with Esma Sultan. The original Axminster company suffered a decisive setback in 1828, when a fire destroyed its weaving looms. Seven years later, Samuel Rampson Whitty, Thomas Whitty's grandson, was declared bankrupt. Blackmores of Wilton acquired the remaining stock and looms and extended its activities to include hand-knotted carpets that continued to be marketed as Axminsters. The original factory's closure ended carpet production in Axminster for many years, even though the name retained strong associations with premium hand-made carpets. The brand was revived through the efforts of Harry Dutfield, a Scottish-born carpet manufacturer living in Kidderminster. Dutfield had founded a new carpet company with his former schoolfriend Stephen Quayle in 1929. During the economic difficulties of the 1930s, Dutfield learned that the town of Axminster had not produced carpets since the nineteenth-century fire. He developed a plan to move his business to Axminster and relaunch Axminster Carpets. He persuaded Southern Railway to extend the local station and obtained a lease on land for a new factory from 1937. The Second World War temporarily redirected the factory's output. The company made stirrup pumps and later aircraft parts, while Dutfield served as a Home Guard officer. After the war, raw-material shortages made vertical control of production particularly valuable. Dutfield acquired a woollen mill at Buckfast near Buckfastleigh, including salmon-fishing rights on the River Dart. The acquisition helped him re-establish a complete production chain, later described as running from fleece to floor. Day-to-day management was eventually passed to his son Simon, allowing Dutfield to semi-retire. Dutfield received an MBE for services to British exports and died in Axminster on 21 May 1999. In its modern form, Axminster Carpets has emphasized British manufacturing, technical quality and control over yarn preparation. The company is described as purchasing, washing, carding, spinning and dyeing its own yarn before weaving the finished carpet. Modern Axminster-type power looms can produce elaborate designs with numerous colours and patterns. The carpets are valued for their durability and have been used in country houses, luxury hotels, airlines, railway carriages and other high-traffic or prestige environments. The company has also produced bespoke designs for Wetherspoon pubs. The company celebrated the 250th anniversary of carpet weaving in Axminster in 2005 with a commemorative rug. Weavers carried the rug through the town; it was blessed by the Bishop of Exeter and presented to the Earl of Devon. It was later placed in Clarence House. In 2012, the company received a Royal Warrant for supplying goods and services to the Royal Household. That year, Axminster Heritage acquired the original former factory, now a Grade II listed building, and adapted it as a heritage centre. A major recent turning point came in February 2020, when Axminster Carpets entered administration. In March, investors including the former owners acquired the business out of administration. The available reference material confirms the continuation of the brand after the transaction but does not provide a detailed account of its subsequent ownership, leadership or financial position.

• 2020

  Administration and investor acquisition

  [1]Axminster Carpetsen.wikipedia.org

  The company enters administration in February and is bought out of administration by a group of investors in March.

• 2012

  Royal Warrant and preservation of the original factory

  [1]Axminster Carpetsen.wikipedia.org

  Axminster Carpets receives a Royal Warrant, while Axminster Heritage acquires the former original factory for conversion into a heritage centre.

• 2005

  250th anniversary commemorative rug

  [1]Axminster Carpetsen.wikipedia.org

  The company marks 250 years of carpet weaving in Axminster with a commemorative rug that is presented to the Earl of Devon and later placed in Clarence House.

• 1937

  Manufacturing returns to Axminster

  [1]Axminster Carpetsen.wikipedia.org

  Following Harry Dutfield's relocation plan, the revived company begins establishing its factory operation in Axminster.

• 1929

  Dutfield and Quayle establish a carpet company

  [1]Axminster Carpetsen.wikipedia.org

  Harry Dutfield and Stephen Quayle establish the business that later becomes the basis for the twentieth-century revival of Axminster Carpets.

• 1835

  Original company declared bankrupt

  [1]Axminster Carpetsen.wikipedia.org

  Samuel Rampson Whitty, Thomas Whitty's grandson, is declared bankrupt; Blackmores of Wilton acquires the remaining stock and looms.

• 1828

  Fire destroys the original weaving looms

  [1]Axminster Carpetsen.wikipedia.org

  A major fire destroys the original company's weaving looms and precipitates the decline of carpet production in Axminster.

• 1800

  Large carpet commissioned for Mahmud II

  [1]Axminster Carpetsen.wikipedia.org

  The company produces an approximately 74-by-52-foot carpet for Mahmud II, Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, decorated with celestial imagery.

• 1755

  Thomas Whitty completes the first Axminster carpet

  [1]Axminster Carpetsen.wikipedia.org

  After studying a Turkish carpet, Thomas Whitty completes his first carpet in Axminster, establishing the town's association with the luxury carpet tradition.

Premium British carpet manufacturer combining heritage, bespoke design, durability and vertically integrated wool-yarn production.

• Woven carpets · 1755

  Axminster woven carpets

  The company's core product is the Axminster carpet: a high-quality woven floor covering capable of incorporating intricate patterns and many colours. These carpets are associated with durability, formal design and use in both prestigious residential interiors and demanding commercial environments.

• Custom carpets

  Bespoke patterned carpets

  Axminster Carpets produces custom-designed carpets for clients requiring particular colour schemes, motifs or room-specific layouts. Bespoke production reflects the brand's historic connection with aristocratic interiors and its modern role in hotels, public venues, transport interiors and branded commercial spaces.

• Commercial flooring

  Hospitality and commercial carpets

  The company supplies hard-wearing carpets for luxury hotels, pubs and other commercial settings. Its products are selected for their ability to combine decorative impact with the durability required in high-footfall environments. The company is specifically associated with bespoke carpet designs for Wetherspoon pubs.

• Transport interiors

  Transport carpets

  Axminster carpets have been used in aircraft and railway carriages, where patterned flooring must withstand intensive use while contributing to the interior design of the vehicle or cabin. The reference material identifies airlines and train carriages among the brand's application areas.

• 2005250 Years of Carpet Weaving Commemorative Rug

  United Kingdom

  To mark 250 years of carpet weaving in Axminster, the company created a commemorative rug and arranged for its weavers to parade it through the town. The rug was blessed by the Bishop of Exeter and presented to the Earl of Devon.

  Outcome. The rug was subsequently placed in Clarence House, giving the anniversary project a lasting royal association.

  Source

• 2020

  Administration and sale of the businessOther

  Background

  Axminster Carpets entered administration on 19 February 2020.

  Action taken

  In March 2020, a group of investors, including the former owners, bought the business out of administration.

  Aftermath

  The transaction allowed the Axminster Carpets brand and manufacturing business to continue, although the available reference does not identify the current corporate ownership structure in greater detail.

  Source

• 1945

  Vertical integration through wool-mill acquisitionStrategy

  Background

  After the Second World War, shortages of raw materials made control over wool and yarn production strategically important.

  Action taken

  Harry Dutfield bought a woollen mill at Buckfast near Buckfastleigh, enabling the business to process materials through more stages of production.

  Aftermath

  The acquisition supported the company's distinctive from-fleece-to-floor production model, later encompassing wool preparation, spinning, dyeing and carpet weaving.

  Source

• 1937

  Relocation and revival of Axminster manufacturingStrategy

  Background

  Harry Dutfield learned that carpets had not been made in Axminster since the original factory fire and developed a plan to restore production and the Axminster name to the town.

  Action taken

  He negotiated railway and land arrangements and established a new factory operation in Axminster.

  Aftermath

  The move revived the Axminster Carpets identity in its historic home and created the foundation for the modern company.

  Source

1. 1Axminster Carpetsen.wikipedia.org