Prior to mechanisation, the teasel was used in the preparation of woollen cloth.
Once woven, the cloth was "fulled" to remove impurities; this originally involved trampling the cloth under water. Fuller's Earth, a clay found in the West Country was used to absorb oils and other impurities.
Next, the "nap" of the cloth had to be raised and then cut with shears. The Romans used the skin of a hedgehog for the purpose but in medieval England teasel heads were set into a frame which was pulled across dampened cloth. The process drew out loose fibres, roughened the surface and raised the nap which could then be cut to ensure a smooth finish.
The process was mechanised by the industrial revolution but it wasn't until the 20th century that the teasel was replaced by artificial materials. The Teasel gig was a machine holding 3000 of the prickly heads in an iron frame. It was electrically powered and replacement of the teasels was a skilled task.
The loose fibres pulled out by the teasels were later used to produce flock wallpaper. Teasels can sometimes still be used, for processing the very finest cloth. The naturally formed hooks of the plant are gentler than steel barbs.
Below:- A fine crop of teasels growing at Furness Vale Football Field.
In the Autumn, the seed heads dry out and goldfinches, having thin beaks can reach the seeds and can often be seen feeding on them.
If you go to the National Wool Museum at Llandysul you can see one of these machines in their main building. The museum takes you through the process from the wool bale right through to finished woven cloth. There's still commerical weaving going on at the mill next door - well worth a visit if you happen to be in Ceredigion.
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