A History of Tufted Rugs

Prototype. Chapter text drafted from the research notes and not yet checked at the archives. Images awaiting permission are marked.

Roger Oates Design

Roger Oates Design

Company · not yet checked at the source · Image permission pending

Made by
Roger Oates and Fay Morgan
Date
founded 1989
Place
Eastnor, near Ledbury, Herefordshire (tufting workshop in Devon)
Held by
Roger Oates Design
Themes
Companies & modern tufting, Global diffusion of tufting

Cite this source

Roger Oates and Fay Morgan. “Roger Oates Design,” founded 1989. Roger Oates Design. rogeroates.com/explore-hand-tufted.

Research notes

Founded in 1989 as Roger Oates Design Associates, a studio that employed handloom weavers and hand-tufters; moved to the Long Barn on the Eastnor Castle estate in 1993–94, London showroom 1999, Ledbury showroom 2022. Best known for flatweave runners; its hand-tufted rugs (British wool) are made in a company workshop in Devon. Why it matters: one of few UK firms documented as hand-tufting domestically; most British carpet history is woven (Axminster, Wilton). Dates: 1989 (Wikipedia); 1993 vs 1994 for the Eastnor move. The Devon workshop's start date not found. Other pages with images: https://www.rogeroates.com/blog/behind-the-scenes-hand-tufted-rugs/ Independent sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_Oates · https://biid.org.uk/hand-tufted-rugs-made-uk-using-100-british-wool Research note (Oct 2026): facts taken from search-result summaries; the pages themselves weren't opened. Check the cited pages before quoting.