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1741 patent to Couran, Barford and Moody for carpet 'Moccadoes', the first written evidence of Wilton carpet

Research finding · not yet checked at the source

Made by: Ignatius Couran (London merchant), John Barford (Wilton upholder), William Moody (Wilton clothier)
Date: 1741
Place: Wilton, Wiltshire
Themes: Woven carpet

View at the source Cited in chapter 3, notes 21, 24

Cite this source

“1741 patent to Couran, Barford and Moody for carpet 'Moccadoes', the first written evidence of Wilton carpet.” Research note. british-history.ac.uk/vch/wilts/vol4/pp148-182.

Research notes

The Victoria County History (Wiltshire vol. 4, 'Textile industries since 1550') says the first written evidence of Wilton carpet is a 1741 patent to Ignatius Couran of London, merchant, John Barford of Wilton, upholder, and William Moody of Wilton, clothier, for a new method of making carpeting 'known as Moccadoes'. The VCH notes that the patented loom had no device for cutting the loops (the feature that separates Wilton 'plush' from Brussels) and suggests that French moquettes, not Wilton, were the more likely origin of that feature. It records the Kidderminster–Wilton rivalry after Kidderminster began Brussels weaving in 1749. Wiltshire Council's community-history list of patentees also names Ignatius Couran of London. Wilton Carpets dates 'the first Wilton carpet loom' patent to 1741 and credits Defosse with cutting the loops. Conflict: whether loop-cutting was part of the 1741 invention (company) or came later or from France (VCH). Sources: https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/wilts/vol4/pp148-182 · https://apps.wiltshire.gov.uk/communityhistory/Page/Index/4834 · https://wiltoncarpets.com/about-us/our-heritage/ Research note (Oct 2026): from search results; pages not opened.