Laxey Woollen Mills

About

Founded in 1881 by Egbert Rydings and John Ruskin's Guild of St.George, to promote and preserve the art of weaving traditional Manx tweed and worsted.

Still a working mill, quality woollen cloth continues to be woven, six days a week, on the two pedal looms within the mill shop. Using either the 1926 Hattersley pedal loom or the 1998 Griffin loom (the same a 'Harris' loom), the master weaver and apprentice weaver produce cloth for all the travel rugs, scarves, Manx tartans and tweeds, both traditional and contemporary. Some of the cloth is used in the production of our tweed and worsted (fine wool) garments, kilts, hats, caps, and wraps; but the majority is available in pre-cut skirt lengths or to buy, by the metre, for clothing, upholstery & interior design and craft projects. We weave Laxey Manx Tartan and Manx Hunting Tartan travel rugs, which are unique to us, as are the Manx Loaghtan plaids . We ship all over the world, so if you can't fit in your suitcase, we can post it.

You will probably be met by the 'meet-& greet' committee, i.e. Rick the Mill Dog, their Irish Wheaten Terrier, whose tasks are many and varied; Chief quality tester of of all newly woven tweed; sculptor of yarn cones; biscuit wrangler (don't let those eyes fool you); softness expert, in charge of sheepskin rugs; and general obstacle, lying in everyone's way. 

Laxey Woollen Mills also use wool from the famous four-horned Manx Loaghtan sheep, born and bred in the Manx sunshine, to weave fantastically warm rugs, a range of stunning un-dyed natural toned tweeds, plus bespoke tailored jackets, coats, waistcoats, handbags, woollen garments, locally knitted mitts, teddy bears, knitting wools and other accessories.

As they only weave, their fine quality knitwear comes from either Ireland or Scotland, keeping it Celtic. Laxey Woollen Mills also have sheepskin slippers and rugs, hand-tooled Manx-made leather belts, leather & tweed brogues and boots, a wide range of Celtic inspired jewellery and Element Isle silver jewellery deisigned & crafted here on the Island.

Upstairs, within in the Hodgson Loom Art Gallery, there exists, possibly, the last surviving example of the 1918 Hodgson Loom and a 1958 wooden Arrol loom. Although they are no longer currently in use, there are plans afoot to bring them back to life. The gallery, which was the old Loomery, now hosts monthly exhibitions by the vast array of artists living and working on the Isle of Man. Check out the Hodgson Loom Gallery facebook page to see what is currently on show.