Sunday, July 31, 2016

Sir Benfro




So, to Pembrokeshire, for a week's holiday, following on from the family gathering to celebrate a Golden Wedding.  Since this coincided with the first weekend of the school holidays, we found ourselves part of a great migration, as convoys of caravans made their way to the beaches of the South-West


The weather followed a familiar coastal pattern of damp, sometimes misty, mornings, clearing to bright sunshine in the afternoons.  Some five years ago we were here before, a bit further south.  This time, we had booked an apartment near Solva.


A visit to St David's confirmed how very small it is for a city, and how very overrun by day-trippers.  We set out on our first walk around the headland from St Justinian's. 

And on that very first walk we came across a group of choughs.  Sadly, against the light, their red legs and beaks are not visible.



Just outside Solva is a working woollen mill.  We had visited this last time, but it has been brought back to life now.


  They specialise in stair carpets woven to order, but also produce that unmistakable double faced Welsh tweed.  Here it is on the loom. 


The chains here are used to set the pattern.


This is part of a Jaquard loom.  One can only marvel at the ingenuity and the patience required.


This is a winder and set of scales used to calculate the heft of a particular yarn.

As for their shop - well, items may have been purchased!



3 comments:

Susan Smith said...

Lovely pics of the coastline and wow, I love working mills, as they are so fascinating. Would love to visit one again on our next trip. Thanks for sharing and take care.

MaureenTakoma said...

You were doing your part in supporting local business! At least that's what I tell myself when things seem to fall in my basket at local yarn purveyors.

knitski said...

Thanks for a nice trip to your part of the world. The country-side is always so stunning! Isn't it wonderful to see a wo0len mill back up running!