This rectangular tray cloth and wooden linen shuttle are attributed to Lopham with a Womack family connection. We have no record who this member of the Womack family was but there were quite a few families of that name living in the Lophams.

 

 The pretty white linen tray cloth has triangular edging and drawn-thread hem.

​The wooden linen loom shuttle has pointed metal ends and bobbin and thread with a leather pull. It is made of boxwood and carved with the initials JM.

 

Linen manufacture had been a home industry in the Lophams, Norfolk as early as the 1400’s. Linen weaving stopped production in the 20th century.

 

England's linen industry grew and the golden era came in the 18th century when local weavers thrived. But by the late 18th century, mechanisation threatened the linen industry. Hargreaves' "Spinning Jenny" in 1764 and the power loom in the 1790’s were key developments.

  

The years of decline stretched into the 20th century. The arduous work of hand looms, the heavy drinking that came with it, the unwillingness to take on apprentices from outside their families and sons not wanting to follow them, may have led to the decrease.

 

Directory records for 1864 shows the number of looms in use in Lopham were 60 in North Lopham and 4 in South Lopham.

 Sadly by 1912 there were only 2 in use in North Lopham and none in South Lopham.

 

‘Ceaseless thud and swish of beater and fly-shuttle and the rattle of bobbin-winding’, which in the 1890’s could still be heard from one end of the village to the other....

 “I hear it in my dreams”, said an old weaver.

 

 The information in this article is reproduced with thanks from: ‘The History of The Lophams’ by Michael Friend Serpell. Published 1980.