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Fountains Abbey: History
Fountains Abbey: Buildings
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The production of wool (4/6)
The master of the sheepfold (the bercarius) had extensive duties, especially at sheep-shearing time when he had to oversee the shearing, washing and grading of the wool. At Fountains there were six grades of wool and the sorter was paid according to the quality of the wool. Once the wool had been sorted, responsibility passed from the bercarius to the wardrobekeeper and his assistants, chiefly, the wooller and skinner.
The carding, combing, spinning and weaving of the wool all took place within the precinct. Fulling was the process whereby the cloth was cleaned and beaten or compressed in a solution of water and detergent. This process not only removed excess grease and oil, but thickened the fibres, to some extent weather-proofing the wool. From the late twelfth century water was used to power the fulling mills. Prior to this there was a more hands-on or rather, ‘feet-on’, approach, for the cloth was put in a wooden tub and trampled on, rather like crushing grapes for wine.(135) |
