Axminster Carpets

The Axminster Carpet Story

As Britain’s oldest and most famous carpet designer and manufacturer, there’s over 250 years of craftsmanship and tradition woven into every Axminster carpet. A genuine Axminster carpet is the epitome of luxury, having graced the floors of royal residences, stately homes, and the finest hotels around the world. In 1790, a specially commissioned Axminster carpet was produced for the newly established US Senate. King George III and Queen Charlotte bought many of the original Axminster carpets, and they were also fitted in Chatsworth House and Brighton Pavilion. Because of their durability and exceptional quality, Axminster carpets are the carpet of choice when furnishing various commercial spaces such as the Royal Albert Hall, prestigious global airlines like British Airways and Virgin, and UK train carriages including the iconic Belmond British Pullman.

How is an Axminster carpet made?

Today’s carpet weaving method used to make an Axminster carpet is almost identical to the original process, although the looms are more technologically advanced, and the designs are more modern. Whilst Axminster is a brand, it’s also the name for a type of woven carpet. A woven carpet is made by weaving the yarn all the way through the backing fibres. When the woven carpet is removed from the loom, the back is coated with latex to fix the tufted fibres in place. To make an Axminster carpet, each individually coloured yarn is selected by the loom, cut into U-shaped tufts, then inserted where it’s needed. The Axminster weaving method allows for infinite colour choices and incredibly detailed designs. It takes around 8 hours to make one roll of Axminster carpet, compared to only one hour for a tufted carpet – something that’s reflected in the cost of a woven carpet.