New book to mark end of flax and hemp project in Beaminster

Seven researchers from Beaminster Museum’s Hanging By A Thread project have spent months delving into the flax and hemp industry – a mainstay for the local economy during a 700-year period.

As part of the research, the museum held an open day in October on the ancient craft of processing flax by hand, where members from the project reintroduced the almost forgotten skills such as rippling, breaking, swingling and hackling to turn locally-grown plants into fibre for rope-making.

Now, as the project nears its end, the museum will host another open day to mark the release of a book written by the researchers on the craft, on Saturday, November 30.

The book, called Hanging By A Thread: Our Flax & Hemp Heritage, includes all of the research that the project has collated.

Ross Aitken, chairman of the Coker Rope and Sail Trust, said the book provided a ‘unique window’ into an industry that was incredibly important to the area.

Mr Aitken said: “This is a brilliant and charming book.

“Much more than the history of the flax and hemp industry in West Dorset, it goes into the details of the people involved and their changing fortunes.

“It is of course easier to trace the histories of the great families and houses but the story of the working men, women and children is much more difficult to research. “The research in West Dorset gives us the opportunity to realise how much work, funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, has gone into this book to provide a unique window into what was one of the most important industries in this area over hundreds of years.”

At the open day, members of the public will again be shown the original flax-making techniques, the history of flax and hemp in the local area and images of the experimental flax growing trials.

It will be held between 10am and noon on Saturday, November 30. For more information contact the museum on 01308 863577.