Stroud Hemporium
The domestic textiles of the UK were linen, hemp and wool. Stroud has a long history of wool production, which survived after the initial period of globalisation in the 18th century. Hemp, however, was replaced by cotton, which could be included in the triangular slave trade. Its growing and manufacture was controlled by people disempowered from making their own clothes as they had been from producing their own food.
Hemp is an amazing crop. It grows well in the temperate climate of the UK and is so prolific that it stifles weeds and therefore can easily be grown organically. It can be used to make a staggering array of products from textiles, insulation, cosmetics, and paper through to plastics and resin-based parts for cars. Hemp was widely grown across Britain in the Middle Ages, from at least 800, to 1800 AD. It was used to make textiles, paper, rope and for oil. The fibres are believed to have anti-mildew and anti-microbial properties. It was frequently used to make sailcloth and sacking, as well as for clothing, sometimes blended with wool. A hemp resin can be used to produce a substitute for plastic. The crop was considered so important for national security that during the reign of Henry VIII the growing of hemp was compulsory.
The ultimate vision is to have a cottage industry in the Five Valleys producing clothes for the use of local people. At this stage, however, we are aiming to produce the first hemp garment made entirely in this country—from seed to clothing—for hundreds of years. Stroud is the place where this should and can happen.