Dunsters and Serges

Dunster produced cloth from at least the mid 13th century until the later 18th century. Leland stated in the 1540s that the ‘the town of Dunster maketh cloth’ and short broadcloths called ‘dunsters’ were recorded until the early 17th century.  After the decline in the traditional Dunster cloth in the 17th century serge-making was introduced but seems to have been less profitable and lasted barely a century.