The Terrible Knitters of Dent - Wild Woollens

Another area in the Yorkshire Dales National Park - although it is in Cumbria - is the Dentdale area to the west and north-west of the Park. This area has a long history of woollen textiles as is evidenced in the Farfield Mill near Sedbergh.

However, such was the fame of the incredible speed skill of the local popuation of the Dentdale area regarding their hand knitting of woollen clothing such as socks and gloves, that they were renowned as ‘The Terrible Knitters of Dent’. This name had nothing to do with their personalities or the quality of their products, but rather that they were terribly fast and skilfull!

Today, Dentdale’s tradition of knitting woollens continues at ‘Sophies Wild Woollens’ in the tiny and quaint village of Dent.

More information may be obtained from Sedbergh Information Centre.