Main content

Trowbridge Museum, The Shires: From Trowbridge to Ypres

During World War One, the cloth mills of Trowbridge spun miles of cloth for allied uniforms; from private soldiers, to a famous general.

At the outbreak of war, there were five working mills in the county town. Production quickly turned into military orders.

Service personnel from Britain, France, Serbia and Japan all wore uniforms made of Trowbridge cloth. Even an American; General Pershing, wore a uniform of this highly regarded cloth.

One mill, Kemp and Hewitts, produced over 300 miles of blue grey cloth for French officers. That is more than the distance from Trowbridge to Ypres.

Location: Trowbridge Museum, The Shires, Trowbridge, Wiltshire BA14 8AT
Image: Mill workers in Trowbridge, courtesy of Trowbridge Museum

Release date:

Duration:

4 minutes

Featured in...