Culture And Memory

Devon Grows Flax

Our project aims to uncover, revive and embed heritage flax culture throughout Devon. Flax growing and processing to make linen and other materials was once common in the county. A flax mill operated in Tuckenhay, near Totnes, from the late 1700s to the early 1800s, primarily to meet the demand for linen, sailcloth and yarn for the nearby naval port of Plymouth. Following a successful pilot in 2024/25, we will support people of all ages to grow flax in gardens, allotments, schools, and on land managed by TTT, nurturing it from seed to harvest. They will then come together to process the plant into cloth and create community artefacts. We will also conduct research into Devon’s flax growers, ‘flax dressers’, spinners and linen weavers and their contribution to the county’s economy and heritage, enabling people to reconnect with long-overlooked stories, recreate flax heritage and celebrate local crafters.