Carpet fit for presidents came from Worcestershire (From Worcester News)

Carpet fit for presidents came from Worcestershire

9:30am Monday 28th January 2013 in News By Mike Pryce

CINEMAGOERS can look out for a little bit of Worcestershire in Stephen Spielberg's blockbuster new film Lincoln, which opened at the weekend.

Because the Grosvenor Wilton carpet company from Hartlebury, near Stourport, has supplied a replica of an authentic 19th century carpet for scenes featuring the White House residence of President Abraham Lincoln, who is played in the movie by Daniel Day Lewis.

It is actually Grosvenor Wilton’s second association with the White House, because the company has also manufactured carpet for the real life mansion’s Lincoln Bedroom. Its small weaving operation is now based at Hartlebury, after it was relocated from its original historic site in Kidderminster, which is now home to the town’s recently opened Carpet Museum.

The looms used to manufacture the Lincoln carpet are about 100 years old.

Grosvenor Wilton director Malcolm Foley said: “We were delighted to receive the commission from the film company to make the carpet.

“We understand Steven Spielberg insisted on using the authentic historic design our company had previously manufactured for the Lincoln Bedroom in the White House five years ago.

“I have to say that it is very rewarding to know that a traditional Wilton carpet made in Kidderminster will be seen on screen by so many people around the world.

“My son who works with the company has already seen the film in America and confirms the carpet is regularly shown and plays a prominent role. It is certainly something we in the company all feel very proud of and is very representative of the work we do.”

Grosvenor Wilton can trace its roots back to the late 18th Century when the original Grosvenor business was founded in 1790 and is well known for supplying specialist restoration, historic and interior designer markets worldwide.

Exports currently account for 50 per cent of its output.

The company made all the carpets for the soon to be opened Charles Dickens Museum in London, while carpet has been also supplied to Buckingham Palace and earlier this year to the Mansion House London, as well as Balmoral House, Government House in Melbourne and the stage set of Mary Poppins in New York.

Lincoln, which is set around Lincoln’s efforts to abolish slavery, has been nominated for 12 Academy Awards.