Carpets were first made in Kidderminster as one of the many new fabrics - cheyneys, rateens, etc., were introduced in the early 18th century to replace the old linsey-woolsey industry which was dying out. Traditionally, the Kidderminster carpet trade began in 1736 when John Pearsall built a factory non Mount Skippet, making Scotch, or flat carpets without pile; then about 1749 making cut carpets after the style of Wiltons.
