Lochcarron of Scotland

Waverley Mill, Home to Lochcarron of Scotland

Note that in mid 2006 Lochcarron of Scotland relocated to new premises in Selkirk, and Waverley Mill in Galashiels was demolished to make way for retail development. This page is therefore of historical interest only at present. It will be updated in due course, depending on whether Lochcarron continues to offer facilities for visitors in its new premises.

Princess of Wales Memorial Tartan Pulling the Threads Together The Weaving Process Washing the Fabric Teasels for Cashmere Finishing Checking the Finished Tartan

Nestling in the back streets of Galashiels and on the bank of the Gala Water the Waverley Mill is home to the internationally renowned Lochcarron of Scotland.

Still using some traditional methods the mill weaves the world's largest range of pure new wool tartans. And with ever increasing popularity for fine fabrics Lochcarron are now taking orders for some of the most famous names in fashion. Clients include Vivienne Westwood, Ralph Lauren, Burberry and Jigsaw, to name just a handful: all have contracts for the unique tartans and fabrics the Waverley Mill produces.

1894/5 Pattern Book

Weaving Museum

Answering Visitors' Question

The Mill Store

And visitors are able to view these tartans and fabrics being produced, because for over 100 years Lochcarron of Scotland has had mill tours as an integral part of what they do. These tours offer visitors and potential clients the chance to see the entire process from the spun yarn used to the finished tartan or fabric. Tours are available all year round and your guide will take you right into the heart of the action.

The Museum is the first stop for visitors arriving at Lochcarron of Scotland and provides an insight into historical weaving methods and the importance of the weaving industry to Galashiels and the Scottish Borders as a whole. The tour itself starts in the Mill Store.

Visitors are then taken to view the start of the weaving process itself. The spun yarn is the first component of the whole story. At Waverley Mill they use a number of different types of natural fibres that are specially dyed for use in the final tartan fabrics. The next step lines these yarns up into the pattern they will form on large drums and produces a roll of threads that will eventually be woven together to make the tartan.

Checks are made every step of the way to maintain the highest standards of quality. Lochcarron of Scotland's high standards have resulted in their winning the Gold Award for Export Achievement from the British Knitting and Clothing Export Council.

The gathered threads can range in length from those suitable for short, individual one-off orders of 10m to those destined for large corporate orders that can be many hundreds of metres long. Weaving time depends on the length of the fabric being produced. In the past, looms could take a number of days to produce a large order. Today's vastly improved technology means that even the largest orders can be woven in just a few hours.

From the looms the tartans are taken to be washed in local spring waters and dried. Depending on the finish of the final fabric the material may be washed and dried at different temperatures during a number of different cycles: rather like washing different fabrics at home! Finally, the lengths of tartan are methodically checked by hand. Any faults that are found are rectified by hand before the fabric is left to rest.

Although the main focus of Lochcarron of Scotland is the weaving of tartan, the company also produce many different types of fine knitwear. They are particularly famous for the way that they finish their cashmere products. They still use a traditional method involving hundreds of dried thistles, known as teasels. The teasels are lined up on a huge drum and are sprayed with water to soften them. Cashmere passed over the teasels is combed more effectively than by any artificial process yet found. So specialised is this process that many companies send their finished fabrics to Lochcarron just to be combed.

The tour finishes back in the Mill Store where visitors are able to see the finished products on the shelves in the form of scarves, jumpers, ties and kilts to name just a few. Here you can purchase Lochcarron of Scotland knitwear as well as tartan and tweeds produced from cashmere, lamora, lambswool and mohair. Lochcarron of Scotland is also the exclusive manufacturers of the Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Tartan.

The Main Mill Floor