About us

Who we are, the mill today,and our history.

Solva Woollen Mill its owned by Tom and Anna Grime and can be found on the banks of the Solfach, one mile inland from picturesque Solva, producing woven fabric on its historic looms, as it has for over 100 years.

Tom has years of experience weaving, keeping the Dobcross looms working, organising the weaving. introducing new designs, and sourcing the wool, amongst a myriad other jobs required to keep a mill running.

Anna has transformed the shop to display the mill's own woven rugs and runners as well as other beautiful products that reflect the ethos of the mill: made in the UK and fundamentally of good quality and resilience.

Solva Woollen Mill is a hidden treasure tucked away in a valley in West Wales. People travel from all over the world to visit this special place and experience a small piece of Welsh history. Run by a fantastic team, all fiercely proud of the mill's heritage and values, the mill produces and sells products that fit perfectly into a traditional or modern setting.

The mill today

The only mill in Wales to specialize in flat woven flooring, we produce several ranges of stair runner, including Penberri, Dyffryn and Island, and also offer a bespoke service.

We also produce floor rugs, with four key designs having become synonymous with Solva Woollen Mill. The Tapestry pattern, a traditional welsh design, has been woven at the mill for over 70 years. Preseli is a strong geometric pattern and Pembroke was developed by Tom from pattern called Carlton.

We have created woven stair runners for stately homes, museums, and other public buildings in the UK and abroad. We have collaborated for many years with fabric designer. Vanessa Arburhnott, to create a range of runners and rugs that compliment her fabrics beautifully.

In 2008, we were honoured to receive a commission from HRH The Prince of Waled(now King Charles the III) for a series of carpets and rugs for his home in Carmarthenshire

We use 100% British Wool and have been strong supporters of the Campaign for wool since its launch in 2010. The campaign has done much to reintroduce wool into our daily lives: build appreciation for its versatility: and increase the value of raw fleece. Most of our wool is spun by a family-run company inYorkshire - Milibridge Spinners - and we are very pround to continue the long history of weaving at Solva Woollen Mill.

Our History

In 1900 there were 26 woollen mills in the county of Pembrokeshire. Today, Solva Woollen Mill is the oldest working woollen mill in Pembrokeshire - one of only two remaining in the county

Moved to its present site from St.Davids in 1907 by Tom Griffiths, the new purpose build factory was powered by a 10 foot overshot water-wheel, it was equipped with the machinery to process fleece into fabric, a number of small powered looms and a hand loom for weaving stair carpet, a cropping machine and a flannel press.

Warping was carried out on a peg frame. The finishing of the cloth was initially carried out at a local fulling mill before the mill invested in its own fulling machine. Producing tweeds, flannel, blankets, hand woven stair carpets and wool for knitting, the mill was kept bust supplying both local demand and visitors from further afield. In 1929 the then Prime Minister the RT. Hone J. Ramsey MacDonald MP had a suit woven from Middle Mill tweed.

 

Eric soon recognised the market for weaving and fitting carpets and transferred carpet production to the powered looms. They expanded the factory re-equipping with larger looms and a more modern warper and the water-wheel was replaced with 'Ruston' oil fired engine. The introduction of mains electricity in the early 1960's saw another weaving shed being built and the looms again being replaced.

The Mill in 1907

In 1968 it is recorded that the mill was equipped with: one small willeying machine: a carding set consisting of a hand feed: a 48-inch two part scribbler: an Apperley intermediate feed: a 48-inch two-part carder with single rubber condenser giving 22 good threads: one 80 spindle hand mule: a super-cop weft winder: a hank making machine: a 152 inch warping mill and creel: four large powered looms and one small 48 inch loom

Mr and Mrs Griffiths in 1941

In 1944 Betty, Tom's daughter married Eric Hemmingway, a colour matcher trained in a Cleckheaton worsted spinning firm, who she had met while he was stationed at St, Davids airfield during the war. When Tom Griffiths retired in 1950 Betty and Eric took over the running of the mill.

Eric Hemmingway using the Twister.
Tom Griffiths grading the fleece.

More stringent health and safety regulations saw the scrapping of all the whole carding and spinning plant, it being more economical to buy in ready-spun and dyed yarn. The finishing was once again done off site. By the 1970's most of the mill's production was carpeting and the mill had a shop in St.Davids catering for the increasingly important tourist trade.

In 1986 Betty and Eric decided it was time to retire. Having no immediate family to continue the business, the mill was sold to the Grime family and Eric stayed on as a consultant passing on his many years of experience to the new owners. Cynthia, Robert and their son Tom were determined to maintain the reputation that the mill had for quality woven goods.

A steady programme of refurbishment saw the connection of mains water and a telephone for the first time. More looms were purchased, and part of the old mill converted into a tea room. A new larger car park with a footbridge over the river was constructed.

The mill was taken over by Tom and his wife Anna in 2006. To celebrate the mills centenary in 2007 the original waterwheel was restored and provides, along with a new outdoor seating area, another attraction at the mill. In 2011 the restoration of the old mill was finished and it is now home to our shop and tea room.

Photo of drying skeins of wool