The small Norfolk village of Carleton Rode has had a varied history.
On this site the History Group aim to publish brief extracts from our village history book and historical documents donated or on loan to us. We also hope that residents or visitors to
Carleton Rode will share their memories, photographs and documents with us.
On this site the History Group aim to publish brief extracts from our village history book and historical documents donated or on loan to us. We also hope that residents or visitors to
Carleton Rode will share their memories, photographs and documents with us.
Flax Retting in Ireland
We need information about Flax growing & processing in Carleton Rode.
The flax plant stem is made up of various layers with the bundles of fibre near the outside and woody matter on the inside, all bound together with pectin, which is a natural gummy substance, The woody matter has to be broken down and removed to release the fibre. This is done by retting which is nothing more than rotting the
woody matter. We know local farmers harvested their crop and did their own retting in flax dams or retting pits. The flax after pulling, and still damp, was placed in the dam and weighted down and left for days for the soft pulp to rot.
Do you remember the horrible smell? Or have photos or memories
of Flax growing and processing? Please let us know.
The flax plant stem is made up of various layers with the bundles of fibre near the outside and woody matter on the inside, all bound together with pectin, which is a natural gummy substance, The woody matter has to be broken down and removed to release the fibre. This is done by retting which is nothing more than rotting the
woody matter. We know local farmers harvested their crop and did their own retting in flax dams or retting pits. The flax after pulling, and still damp, was placed in the dam and weighted down and left for days for the soft pulp to rot.
Do you remember the horrible smell? Or have photos or memories
of Flax growing and processing? Please let us know.