Historic Handcrafts: Peg Loom Talk & Taster with Mountain Croft Felted Fleece

The people of Lancashire have a rich history in the production of textiles from ancient warp-weighted looming and peg loom weaving to modern manufacturing.  Join Claire Milligan and Charlotte Duerden from Mountain Croft Felted Fleece for a talk about the history, techniques and materials used in peg looming.  Watch demonstrations and have a first go at this historic handcraft.  Suitable for age 14 years +.  Booking essential. 

Mountain Croft Felted Fleece was founded by two friends on neighbouring farms who were looking for a way to reconnect with the land and nature, while finding a new means of supporting their farms.  Based in the Pendle Hill countryside, they transform what is now often considered a waste product into something beautiful, using historic, ethical and sustainable methods.

This talk is part of a programme of events celebrating the Festival of Archaeology, 2026.  Loom weights have been discovered in Clitheroe and elsewhere in Lancashire, including Ribbleton and Lancaster.  While some date back to the Iron Age, many are from the medieval or post‑medieval periods and are typically made of lead or lead alloy.  To discover more about archaeological finds in Lancashire related to weaving, visit the Portable Antiquities Scheme online database, which records finds across the UK.

Clitheroe Castle Museum is managed by Lancashire County Council's Museum Service on behalf of Ribble Valley Borough Council.