Dawe’s Twineworks – From Flax Fields To Sailcloth

Dawe’s Twineworks in the Somerset countryside is England’s only surviving and working twineworks. With a rich history from its origins in 1899 to its closure in 1968, the past now comes alive with the restoration of the twineworks, the 100-yard ‘walk’ and the noisy Shanks oil engine that powers the process.

Flax Fields

West Coker is a small Somerset village in the southwest of England, just outside Yeovil. Since the 13th century and possibly even earlier, the area has been known for the flax (Linum usitatissimum) and hemp that grow well on the Bridport Sands that make up the local soil.

Even today, flax, sometimes known as linseed, can be seen as blue swathes across the Somerset countryside in the late spring. Their delicate blue flowers are supported on thin, reed-like stems, which are harvested (pulled up) for making twine. Their seed heads are used for flour and oils and are known for their health benefits.

A Brief History of Sailcloth and Twine Making

In the 13th Century King John ordered ropes and sailcloth from the area, and the Somerset and Dorset ropeworks supplied the King’s Navy until the 16th century. By the 17th Century ‘Coker Canvas’ was a well-known and distinctive form of sailcloth. It could be found on navy and merchant vessels all along the south coast of England.

As sail gave way to steam, the industry modified and changed with the times to start making fishing nets and lines from twine. Many villages had ‘twine walks’, long buildings that allowed the twine to be spun in its full length. Before the walks became popular, the spinning of weak fibres into a stronger yarn was carried out in the home, and some of these cottages can still be seen in West Coker and the surrounding villages.

Dawe’s Twine Walk

In the 1820’s, a sailcloth business owner set up in West Coker. He would have had warehousing and a yarn barton. The yarn barton was a field or yard used to dry the flax yarn after it had been boiled with potash (a process known as bucking). In 1877, his son sold the works to William Dawe, who had worked as a clerk and travelling salesman for the business. Leaving sailcloth behind, Dawe focussed on twine making. He had a number of twine walks, which were built in 1899 and were covered by 1902, when the business was thriving. A later edition was the unique and extremely noisy 1927 Shanks oil engine that provided the power for the spinning.

How Flax is Made into Twine

Twine making today is nothing like the past, but at Dawe’s Twineworks and the village of West Coker, it is possible to see how the process would have dominated the village. After the flax had been pulled, it went through a process called retting.

This involved soaking the plants in ponds or slow-moving water for about 15 days. After this time, the fibres could be removed from the stalks. Rippling using a coarse comb would remove the seeds, which could be used for animal feed or pressed into linseed oil.

The weak fibres were then spun into a stronger yarn. This was done using the power of steam and later oil engines that turned the fibres continually along the long walk. After this process, the yarn was spun again to form twine. If a thicker rope was needed, then strands of twine were spun until the required thickness was achieved.

Visiting Dawe’s Twineworks

The twineworks are tucked away in West Coker and are clearly signposted on the A30 between Yeovil and Crewkerne. There is a walk around the village that includes other sites used in the twine industry in the village, and maps can be collected from the Twine Works little museum and cafe. Opening times are limited, so it is best to check their website before visiting.

• 94A High St, West Coker, Yeovil BA22 9AU
• Find on Google Maps
• Visit their page on the West Coker website