Napier Matting

[mareanna]

Does anyone know what this trade is? 

I have a Charles Edward Masters on the 1911 census in South Petherton, a "Weaver of Napier Matting"
His father was also a "Matting Weaver"

[stanmapstone]

Napier matting is made of hemp.
See http://www.rootschat.com/links/01po8/
Stan

[stanmapstone]

From the The Furniture Gazette, July 7th 1877.

South Petherton is only 3 miles from Martock.

[mareanna]

Well, I live and learn, thank you 

The mind boggles at walking on hemp matting 

[KGarrad]

In 1893, the US Senate bought 98 yards of Napier matting, and 132 yards of Napier matting - for the Senate Chamber

Still available on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=hemp+matting&index=aps&tag=googhydr-21&ref=pd_sl_33ukcedcc0_b&adgrpid=55996770667&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=259067712613&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=6508501365717420528&hvqmt=b&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1007268&hvtargid=kwd-315660332775&hydadcr=28147_1724764&gclid=CjwKCAjwrvv3BRAJEiwAhwOdM3u6D5LnfHElHgC4ZZlCCsuGsyW3eqvzkAtBc5hZEnsmvqVs6a96SBoCsukQAvD_BwE

[stanmapstone]

“From Field to Factory, Flax and Hemp in Somerset’s History from 1750”
See http://www.martockhistory.co.uk/research/parrettworks.php

Stan