.png){kind=icon}
.png)
to add an item to your Itinerary basket.
Home: Things to Do > Laxey Woollen Mills
Laxey Woollen Mills
Laxey
IM4 7AR
Locally Made Products
Call direct on:
Tel01624 861395
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 produces cloth for all the travel rugs, scarves, Manx tartans and tweeds. Some of the cloth is used in the production of 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.
Laxey Woollen Mills weave Laxey Manx Tartan and Manx Hunting Tartan travel rugs, which are unique to us, as are the Manx Loaghtan plaids . Laxey Woollen Mills ship all over the world, so if you can't fit it in your suitcase, they can post it to you.
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 tweeds, plus bespoke handbags, woollen garments, locally knitted mitts, teddy bears and knitting wools.
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, leather belts, silk mix pashminas and a wide range of Celtic inspired jewellery.
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.
