Newtown Museum · 21 February 05 · Issue 1

The importance of urine cannot be overestimated in the economy of Newtown up to the 19th century. Newtown depended on the wool trade for centuries and urine was a vital element for cleaning fleeces and thickening the woven fabric. Newtown Museum traces the history of wool from the 3000 BC sheep to the 19th century cloth and with the aid of a video and model display, gives an insight into the life of a 19th century weaver and his family in Newtown at that time The museum is housed in a row of former weavers cottages that were bought for the purpose with lottery money and there are many fascinating artefacts of the period and a history which includes the extraordinary life of Thomas Price-Jone of the department store fame. Read about this in PenCambria No. 1