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Silk production at Lullingstone Castle
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Silk production at Lullingstone Castle
Page from The Tatler reporting on the silk production there overseen by Lady Hart Dyke. Three million silkworms were cared for by a permanent staff of fifteen with twenty five of the castles fifty four rooms given over to the work, which had increased due to the silk required for RAF parachutes. Lullingstone later provided silk for the wedding dress of Princess Elizabeth (Queen Elizabeth II) to Prince Philip in 1947. The silkworms were imported from China rather than Italy - for patriotic reasons! Date: 1940
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Dyke Hart Lullingstone Sep19 Silk Silkworm Sericulture Silkworms
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A Peek into the Wartime Silk Production at Lullingstone Castle: Lady Hart Dyke's Silk Farm for the RAF Amidst the tumultuous backdrop of World War II, an extraordinary scene unfolded at Lullingstone Castle in Kent, England. In this serene and historic castle, Lady Zoe Hart Dyke oversaw an unprecedented silk production, a vital industry that contributed significantly to the war effort. With three million silkworms under their care, a permanent staff of fifteen tended to the creatures in twenty-five of the castle's fifty-four rooms. The silk industry had experienced a surge in demand due to the requirement for silk parachutes for the Royal Air Force (RAF). In a patriotic move, Lady Hart Dyke opted to import silkworms from China instead of Italy, the traditional source of European silk. This decision was made to support the Allied cause and ensure a steady supply of silk for the RAF's essential parachutes. The castle's transformation into a silk farm was a remarkable sight. The once grand rooms were now filled with trays of mulberry leaves and bamboo shelters, providing the perfect environment for the silkworms to thrive. The metamorphosis of the silkworms from tiny eggs to full-grown creatures, spinning their precious silk cocoons, was a testament to the dedication and perseverance of Lady Hart Dyke and her team. This wartime endeavor at Lullingstone Castle did not go unnoticed. The castle's silk later graced the wedding dress of Princess Elizabeth (later Queen Elizabeth II) when she married Prince Philip in 1947, adding another chapter to the castle's rich history.
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