We run 145 acres of pasture and Ancient Woodland about 14 miles from Tiverton in mid Devon. The farm is at 700′ and sits on the southern edge of Exmoor. We have some of the most wonderful wildlife with red deer, otters, badgers, ravens, dormice and more birds, wild flowers and rare lichens than I can list on this page. Our principal business is fine fibre production. We are passionate about our animals and the cashmere, mohair and fine Bowmont Merino wool they produce. Lesley is the main farmer and also spins and weaves. Roger is part time as he also runs a John Deere Agricultural Machinery business. We have approximately 300 goats and sheep at any one time.
Everything we do here is dictated by our Mission Statement:
It is our privilege to share the lives of our animals and to use their fibres. It is our duty to treat them with respect and kindness at all times.
Visitors are welcome here providing you contact us first. See www.devonfinefibres.co.uk for more details.
What a lovely blog you have. I found you on Ravelry, and I’m putting you on my blog list.
By: ruth on January 31, 2008
at 12:35 am
Thank you Ruth! I think one reason people enjoy it so much is it’s a million miles away from life in the city but doesn’t involve them in any hard work! There are times when I would cheerfully swap!
Love your yarns btw. They are the same weight as my cashmere. I really would like to knit socks. I’ve done one pair and really should get on with another. I can’t make up my mind if I should use a circular neddle or stick with the 5 pins I currently use. What do you think?
By: devonfinefibres on January 31, 2008
at 3:49 am
Hi Lesley, just paying a return visit to say hi and admire your beautiful goats. I have eczema and cannot wear wool, but have discovered lately that I can ‘make do’ with cashmere… poor me! Like you, though, I am concerned about where things come from and don’t want to buy cheaply at the expense of animal welfare and the future of the planet.
By: Cally on February 3, 2008
at 11:35 am
Thank you Cally. Yes, poor you! Its a real problem having eczema. I know a lot of folks with it can wear Alpaca. What about Alpaca for every day and Cashmere for high days and holidays?
By: devonfinefibres on February 3, 2008
at 11:46 am
Is there a label (manufacturer) of pashmina??quality shaws or other quality cashmere/silk blends that are being sold in the U. S.? I would like to buy a quality shaw for my wife as an anniversary gift.
Thank you, Eric Rogers
By: ericrogers@san.rr.com on August 13, 2008
at 9:36 pm
Have contacted you off Blog Eric about this. We sell our shawls to the USA.
By: devonfinefibres on August 14, 2008
at 5:32 am
What a breath of real England. As someone who spent their entire working life in textiles its nice to see where it all starts and in your case finishes. I currently live in Northern Thailand so to see the lovely rolling green hills of devon is a real treat.
My mother lived in Wembury near Plymouth for the final years of her life and nothing would induce her to live anywhere else. Certainly I have spent many happy hours roming Dartmoor and to a lesser extent Exmoor. Cashmere and Alpaca must rate as two of the finest natural fibres available. Isn’t nature wonderful.
Graham Dearing
grahamdearing@rocketmail.com
By: cuff22 on March 6, 2009
at 10:01 am
[...] England — Leslie at Devon Fine Fibers is experimenting with cashmere water bottle covers with fiber from some of her 250 goats and sheep [...]
By: Cashmere Hot Water Bottle Cover | All Things Goat on October 19, 2009
at 11:49 pm
That’s a neat mission statement. Keep up the good work.
By: peahen on January 26, 2010
at 1:18 pm
Thank you. It sounds corny but we do truly believe it and try very hard to live up to it. It’s not always easy but then nothing worth doing ever is.
By: devonfinefibres on January 26, 2010
at 1:24 pm
What a great blog, and we’re practically neighbours – I’m on the other side of Exmoor. I’m just looking at getting some goats so finding your blog is particularly timely, and i look forward to following your posts.
By: Simon Dawson on May 19, 2010
at 7:41 am
Hi Simon,
Thank you for this. just had a look at your Blog. See my latest post!
By: devonfinefibres on May 19, 2010
at 8:18 am
I don’t know how I didn’t see you online before, but now I am going to be checking back here often.
I am a Barnstaple girl living in the United States, and I would love to get a hold of some Devon wool and make something lovely from it.
Looking at your website makes me homesick.
By: maediya on June 22, 2010
at 1:59 am
Hi Suzanne, Glad you enjoy it. I try to give a fairly varied picture of daily life here on the farm. How long is it since you left Barnstaple? Have you seen the new bypass road which takes traffic around the town onto the Ilfracombe road? Doesn’t seem to have amde any difference to the congestion in the town!! Regards, Lesley
By: Lesley on June 22, 2010
at 4:13 pm
I left Barnstaple over 5 years ago and so the new bridge was a bit of a shock when I visited there last november. My family live up Sticklepath hill and yes…its not helped one iota! I remember them talking about that bridge when I was in primary school…funny.
By: maediya on June 27, 2010
at 11:10 pm
Hello from Alaska. New into goats. Not sure between angora and cashmere to start. want to have a very small herd with only does and weathers. please point me in the right direction for finding semen that can be imported to US or found in US. Internet search hasn’t been especially helpful. thanks for your time. Ginny
By: Ginny Crawford on August 26, 2011
at 6:04 pm
Lovely to hear all about you on radio this morning. Found you on internet by looking for Iron Mill Stream which was mentioned. Splendid website except for bad spelling mistake!! ….under FINE FIBRES …Our principle business… should be PRINCIPAL . Hope you didn’t mine me mentioning it.
By: Jane Bunner on July 8, 2012
at 7:31 am
One of many! I write at speed on the blog and check back rarely.
By: devonfinefibres on July 8, 2012
at 7:48 am
I must compliment you on a delightful blog and website.My partner has just started into weaving and we are learning as much by reading as by “doing”. A big wave from a new follower
By: stitchingalways on March 4, 2013
at 11:49 pm