Working Replica Spinning Jenny. James Hargreaves invented the Spinning Jenny in 1764 to increase production of spun yarn. The museum replica was built from timber from old mills and is used to spin yarn which is then used as weft and woven into cloth on our looms.

The Great Wheel or Walking Wheel was invented in medieval times – a simple spindle mounted sideways, driven by a huge wheel. This was faster than the older method of spinning with a hand-spindle. It was used primarily to spin worsted yarn, a smooth compact yarn from long wool fibres used especially for firm napless fabrics.