2020s In 2022 Humphries Weaving proudly celebrated 50 years with a series of celebration talks, bringing together customers, colleagues and friends of the business in celebration at Spencer House, London and Gainsborough House, Sudbury.   They were part of the first UK Mill to achieve OEKO-TEX® S

2010s Although not offering a formal apprenticeship Richard’s connection to the Worshipful Company of Weavers, its textile committee and entry to work scheme gave Richard the opportunity to take on Woven Textile Design graduates from the top universities. This experience of warping, handweaving an

2000s Full circle return to Ashburton Lodge, Sudbury Silk Mills. As the millennium turned, the planned restoration of Osborne House meant the firm had its greatest challenge to face. The Amber Room at Osborne House required a most complex design damask on an extra wide harness requiring a treble Jac

1990s New Mills, Braintree The weaving company had 18 month’s work booked in advance and the museum received 70,000 visitors in the first 12 months. This also meant an up-turn in staff levels rising to 23 employees. With ten looms at New Mills and a further six at DeVere Mill the variety of cloths

1980s In 1985 all efforts in his field were rewarded when Richard received an MBE from the Queen for his services to the textile industry. It was a busy year when a proposal to build a working museum in Warner’s former Mill was approved and the decision to press on for opening at the turn [&hellip

1970 Ashburton Lodge, Sudbury Richard Humphries was enjoying life between the design studio, the London offices of smart interior decorators and visits to Royal locations, brimming with excitement and with a promising career ahead of him when Warner & Sons announced their closure in 1971.   â€

1975 DeVere Mill, Castle Hedingham Humphries Weaving quickly outgrew the space at Ashburton Lodge and moved to the old school at Castle Headingham, renaming the building DeVere Mill. The space and high ceilings allowed for Jacquard looms Richard had saved to be put into operation.  Humphries Weavin

1801 Jacquard Looms In 1801 a Monsieur Joseph Jacquard of Lyon France first demonstrated a device that could be fitted to a loom to create patterns automatically, using hooks controlled by punched paper cards to lift specific groups of warp threads. Over succeeding decades this technique became wide

1960s Richard Humphries was a creative child, excelling in artistic and musical endeavours but keen to move on from the constraints of school. At the age of 14 he began a weaving and design apprenticeship at local silk weaving firm Warner & Sons, Braintree. This was to be the last full apprentic

1130 ‘Weave truth with Trust’ The Worshipful Company of Weavers is the oldest Livery Company in the City of London that was established in 1130, and may have been formed even earlier. The company received a Royal Charter in 1155 and still has ties to the textile industry today. Today the compa