The master of the sheepfold (the bercarius) had extensive
duties, especially at sheep-shearing time when he had to oversee
the shearing, washing and grading of the wool. At Fountains there were six
grades of wool
and the sorter was paid according to the quality of the wool. Once
the wool had been sorted, responsibility passed from the bercarius to the
wardrobekeeper
and his assistants, chiefly, the wooller and skinner.
At Beaulieu Abbey, the better
wool was sold and cheaper wool bought in for the monks’ own use.
[Talbot, ‘Account Book of Beaulieu Abbey’, p. 199.]
The carding, combing, spinning and weaving of
the wool all took place within the precinct. Fulling
was the process whereby the cloth was cleaned and beaten or compressed
in a solution of water and detergent. This process not only removed
excess grease and oil, but thickened the fibres, to some extent
weather-proofing the wool. From the late twelfth century water was
used to power the fulling mills. Prior to this there was a more
hands-on or rather, ‘feet-on’, approach, for the cloth
was put in a wooden tub and trampled on, rather like crushing grapes
for wine.(5)