Where
Ipswich. To be precise, two buildings in the back garden of Des and Liz Pawson’s home of 42 years. One of the buildings was shortlisted for the 2017 Shed of the Year award. “It’s either a big shed or a small barn,” Des Pawson says. The other building was used by Pawson for his ropemaking business. The garden was once part of what was called the Halifax Shipyard, which served the boats that operated out of Ipswich dock.
What
Rope. “Together with the knots and tools associated with it, rope has been behind the development of mankind from earliest times,” Pawson explains. He was a professional ropeworker for many years and is an expert on the history and techniques used in rope and knot-making. He co-founded the International Guild of Knot Tyers in 1982 and was awarded an MBE for services to knots in 2007. “The working of rope is still an essential skill needed today in many walks of life,” Pawson says. “It’s part practical craft, part folk art.”
Opened
August 1996.
Collection
Almost everything to do with the rope-making industry and knots. Pawson says: “Currently we have a good selection of sailors’ sea-chest handles, blackjacks, knives with ropework handles, walking sticks and a shaving brush, all from the 19th century; old sennit or plaited rope mats from 60 years ago; many examples of rope fenders; modern examples of knotwork from a dozen or so countries; and tools for working with rope and canvas, which vary from a whalebone fid (a ropeworking tool) to modern tools for splicing hi-tech yacht ropes.”
Highlights
Help at hand
The museum is run by the Pawsons alone, and is self-financed by them, too. “We believe museums should be free. All we ask is that visitors sign the visitors’ book,” Pawson says.
Sticky moment
When the house was burgled, the Pawsons were concerned the thieves had made off with items from the museum. Luckily the intruders were more interested in house-hold items.
Visitor numbers
Visitors come by appointment only. The museum normally gets 60-100 people a year.
Future plans
The museum will eventually close, but Pawson is still keen to work with other museums and institutions who need more information about ropes and knots. He will also continue producing specialist publications in the museum’s monograph series.
Louise Gray is a freelance writer
Ipswich. To be precise, two buildings in the back garden of Des and Liz Pawson’s home of 42 years. One of the buildings was shortlisted for the 2017 Shed of the Year award. “It’s either a big shed or a small barn,” Des Pawson says. The other building was used by Pawson for his ropemaking business. The garden was once part of what was called the Halifax Shipyard, which served the boats that operated out of Ipswich dock.
What
Rope. “Together with the knots and tools associated with it, rope has been behind the development of mankind from earliest times,” Pawson explains. He was a professional ropeworker for many years and is an expert on the history and techniques used in rope and knot-making. He co-founded the International Guild of Knot Tyers in 1982 and was awarded an MBE for services to knots in 2007. “The working of rope is still an essential skill needed today in many walks of life,” Pawson says. “It’s part practical craft, part folk art.”
Opened
August 1996.
Collection
Almost everything to do with the rope-making industry and knots. Pawson says: “Currently we have a good selection of sailors’ sea-chest handles, blackjacks, knives with ropework handles, walking sticks and a shaving brush, all from the 19th century; old sennit or plaited rope mats from 60 years ago; many examples of rope fenders; modern examples of knotwork from a dozen or so countries; and tools for working with rope and canvas, which vary from a whalebone fid (a ropeworking tool) to modern tools for splicing hi-tech yacht ropes.”
Highlights
Pawson singles out the humble sennit mats as objects that can tell you a lot about material culture. “A sailor or mariner would make a mat from old rope yarns and then stitch them in patterns,” Pawson explains. They were often used as door mats and then thrown away when they became too old.
“The mats are special as they are all individual and, unlike many other items, we know the makers.” The museum also has a length of anchor cable from HMS Victory and, until its recent transfer to the Historic Dockyard Chatham, owned a 1682 ropemaking machine.
Help at hand
The museum is run by the Pawsons alone, and is self-financed by them, too. “We believe museums should be free. All we ask is that visitors sign the visitors’ book,” Pawson says.
Sticky moment
When the house was burgled, the Pawsons were concerned the thieves had made off with items from the museum. Luckily the intruders were more interested in house-hold items.
Survival tips
The Museum of Knots is in an unusual situation, in that it is preparing for its future by transferring its collection to another institution, the Historic Dockyard Chatham. It will take between two to three years to complete the transfer of the collection. But “transferring means there is a succession plan for the collection”, says Pawson, who will provide the curators with details of the artefacts and how they were used.
Visitor numbers
Visitors come by appointment only. The museum normally gets 60-100 people a year.
Future plans
The museum will eventually close, but Pawson is still keen to work with other museums and institutions who need more information about ropes and knots. He will also continue producing specialist publications in the museum’s monograph series.
Louise Gray is a freelance writer