Traditional crafts: Once these skills are lost, they’re lost forever

“My role is to use the deep historic importance of the industry to inform its future. This is all about sharing information and collaboration,”

 

Ann Whitall, Head of the National Wool Museum said.

 

I am sitting outside catching the last of the Summer sun, on the desk my partner built for me, my cat curled up on my lap. We discuss the historical significance of wool to Wales and the importance of this industry, particularly as it is in decline. Although we are speaking over Zoom, Ann still manages to emanate a level of passion, which I’ve come accustomed to feeling from those working in the woollen industry.

 

The National Wool Museum which forms part of Amgueddfa Cymru, has recently required one of the last remaining mills in Wales, Melin Teifi and part of this decision is centred around ensuring that skills are preserved on traditional machinery at a local level.

 

The National Wool Museum which forms part of Amgueddfa Cymru, has recently required one of the last remaining mills in Wales, Melin Teifi and part of this decision is centred around ensuring that skills are preserved on traditional machinery at a local level.

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Ann said:

 

“We now have a team of four new craftspeople with Daniel Harris of the London Cloth Company, who brings outstanding energy to retain traditional weaving skills on-site.

 

“The vision I have is that when Melin Teifi closes, the Museum plays an active role in preserving those traditional skills with an opportunity to keep Welsh flannel woven on-site.

“To hear the looms you have that sense of place straight away.”

 

Preservation of traditional skills is a significant aspect of the work that Amgueddfa Cymru do. As Ann and I talk more, we broach the subject of the very real threat that mill closures in Wales will have on the knowledge and skills associated with the industry.

 

Currently the Heritage Craft Association acknowledges that amongst other wool-related crafts, frame knitting is critically endangered. This was a domestic industry in which whole families worked, with men usually knitting and the women spinning the yarn and using needlework skills for seaming and embroidery.

 

As far back as 2003, UNESCO developed a Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage which stated that safeguarding traditional craftsmanship should focus not only on preserving craft objects like the work that museums do, but also in a continuation in developing opportunities for and encouraging thereof artisans to continue with their traditional crafts so that they can transmit this knowledge to others.

 

A look through the urgent safeguarding list shows Indonesia is conscious of its Saman Dance; the United Arab of Emirates its traditional weaving skills; and China ancient Hezhen Yimakan storytelling. In fact, of the almost 200 countries who have signed the Convention as part of their cultural policy, the United Kingdom is not one of them.