Everyday Heroes - Working in the wool trade in 16th Century

Shrewsbury became the trading centre for Welsh wool from the fifteenth century for the farmer weavers of mid Wales. It is said that Shrewsbury was built on the profits of this trade particularly in the sixteen and seventeenth centuries.
In Shropshire Archives the collections include comprehensive records of the Shrewsbury Drapers Company, but more research is needed to get details of individual merchants who traded the wool. The story of the SDC merchants has been told in many publications and lectures and during previous HOD. This talk will focus on the local heroes involved with the daily grind of processing, weaving, dying, washing and finishing wool by weavers, fullers, shearmen and others involved in supporting them.
To conclude we will review the numbers and names of individuals engaged in some of these trades taken from a sixteenth century muster roll.

Timings

Thursday 17 September:

1100-1200

Location & directions

10 St. Marys Place, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY1 1DZ

Directions:

Drapers` Hall is opposite the south door of St Mary`s Church

Contact on day:

Nigel J Hinton

Telephone number:

+447866522781

Booking information

Pre-booking requirement:

Pre-booking required

Booking conditions:

Please book early as numbers are restricted

Booking contact name:

Nigel Hinton

Booking telephone number:

+447866522781

Booking email:

[email protected]

Booking opens:

30 Aug 2026 12:00 AM

Booking closes:

17 Sep 2026 12:00 AM

Accessibility details

Entrance is up two sloping steps from the road. Assistance may be available with notice All facilities are on the ground floor level.

Additional information

A short talk in the Hall followed by a walk looking at some of the sites mentioned in the talk

Max number of people:

20

Estimated duration:

1 hour(s) 0 minute(s)

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