History of rope, hemp, twine and sail in the South West

by Ross Aitken

Thursday 6 February 2020
2020-02-06 Aitken Image 2
2020-02-06 Aitken Photo

The talk will explain why Coker Canvas was the most important sailcloth for pirates and the navy for hundreds of years. It will set the scene of this importance referring to Admiral Nelson, Emma Hamilton and our local pirate William Dampier. The talk will cover the huge trade between the West Country and Russia in hemp & flax and why twine was so important. It will explain the history of the Dawe’s Twine Works project conserving the only working rural twine works in England.

Ross Aitken is the Chairman of the Coker Rope & Sail Trust which has brought back to life Dawe’s Twine Works in West Coker. He was a geologist working initially for BP on oil rigs in the North Sea and then heading up their uranium exploration programme in Canada. He then worked for the European Commission in Brussels for 25 years ending up handling relations between the Commission and the European Parliament in foreign affairs.

More Upcoming Talks

Talks are held in the Digby Hall, Hound Street, Sherborne, starting at 8pm.

Complimentary tea and coffee are available from 7.15pm.

24 Sep
2019

Why didn’t Britain go either Fascist or Communist between the two world wars?

by Professor Lawrence Goldman

Tuesday 24 September 2019
A talk that compares British historical experience with that on the continent of Europe between 1918 and 1939.
8 Oct
2019

The Diet of Worms 1521

by Professor Elaine Fulton

Tuesday 8 October 2019
This talk will explore the significance of the Diet of Worms, when Martin Luther defied Holy Roman Emperor Charles V.