The Calico People
The textile industry along the Wandle Valley was in existence for over 250 years. Over this period there were a number of noticeable families and individuals involved in its growth and decline. Starting with the influx of the Huguenot refugees from France and Holland bringing with them Peter Mauvillian who established one of the first calico print works at Ravensbury, this exhibition takes you into the lives of the people who established around 20 works along the River Wandle.
Learn about the Littler and Reynold families, Francis Nixon, who invented copperplate printing, the Irish textile designer William Kilburn and many more people who influenced the industry.