From pre-history, through Roman times, as a busy agricultural market town post its 1210 charter and as an important brush making centre, notably for toothbrushes. Children can enjoy their own trail with dressing up points and a quiz. There is a special focus on the world famous carpet industry founded by Thomas Whitty, an original 18th century loom and a beautiful 1769 Whitty carpet. A fully working 1930s Crabtree loom is occasionally run - see website for details. Fittingly all this is housed in a facory Built for the Whitty family business and which subsequently served the town as a court-house and a hospital.