Newtown Textile Museum opens for summer with Pryce Jones exhibition

A new exhibition celebrating one of Newtown’s most influential entrepreneurs has opened as the summer season gets underway at Newtown Textile Museum.

The museum, based on Commercial Street, has launched its permanent Pryce Jones: Mail order Genius exhibition, telling the story of Newtown’s most famous businessman alongside displays exploring the town’s historic flannel industry.

Visitors can also see handlooms, spinning wheels and other traditional equipment used in Welsh flannel production.

Museum curator John Evans said interest in Pryce Jones and Newtown’s role in the origins of mail order shopping has grown in recent years.

“Since lockdown in 2020, we have seen a growing interest by visitors in the role of Newtown in the early development of mail order and we have featured in a dozen TV programmes,” he said.

“This method of shopping by post was pioneered by Pryce Jones from his state of the art distribution centre, the Royal Welsh Warehouse.

“Utilising the two most important communications advances of the Victorian era, the universal postal system and the railway, Pryce Jones transformed his humble draper’s business into a global enterprise.

“In the process he revived Newtown’s flagging fortunes as a manufacturing centre and converted Welsh flannel from a hum drum work a day fabric to a ‘must have’ commodity beloved of royalty.”

The museum has also introduced new family activities after receiving support through the Family Friendly Museum Support Programme run by Kids in Museums and backed by the Welsh Government.

Children and families can now take part in a history trail led by museum mascot Sian the Sheep, use Explorer Bags, visit a family reading hub and try out a dressing up area where visitors can take selfies in a Victorian themed setting.

The museum has also recently featured on the S4C series Cartrefi Cymru and is due to appear on ITV Wales programme Vanished Wales later this year.

New products made by local craftspeople and producers are now available in the museum shop.

The museum welcomes schools, adult groups and tourism visitors and is open every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 12pm until 4pm.