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In November 1914 Cambrian Mills at Dre-fach Felindre, Carmarthenshire, was one of numerous establishments in Wales that supplied Welsh homespun cloth, ‘brethyn llwyd’ (literally ‘grey cloth’), for use in making uniforms for the newly-formed Welsh Army Corps.

As well as encouraging a distinctive Welsh identity, the dull grey cloth was said to be exceptionally tough and hard-wearing – if perhaps a little rough on the skin!

With his modern machinery David Lewis, the proprietor of Cambrian Mills, was able to produce thousands of yards of the grey cloth every month, whereas some of his competitors could only produce small amounts using hand-looms. Even so, as museum curator Mark Lucas explains, demand very soon outstripped supply.

With ever more soldiers required for the war effort, in 1915 the homespun eventually gave way to khaki, and uniforms of brethyn llwyd were never used on the frontline. However, they were used in training, and were found to be exceptionally durable.

Location: The National Wool Museum, Cambrian Mills, Dre-Fach Felindre, Llandysul, Carmarthenshire SA44 5UP
Image: Cambrian Mills 2014 / National Wool Museum
Image courtesy of the National Wool Museum of Wales

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