RESIDENTS confused by the statue of a sheep outside Sainsbury's in Calne may now find the answers they've been seeking at the Calne Heritage Centre.

While the vast majority of residents are familiar with the statue of pigs in Phelps Parade and their link back to Calne as the home of the Wiltshire Cure, few are as aware of Calne's history of cloth.

It is something that Sue Boddington at the Calne Heritage Centre is hoping to correct over the coming months having recently opened the centre's latest exhibition: The Mills on the Marden: Calne's Woollen Cloth Industry and the Subsequent History of its Mills.

Ms Boddington said: "The trade in wool and woollen cloth sustained the economy of Calne and similar market towns around the Wiltshire Downs and Salisbury Plain from the early middle ages to the mid 19th century.

"The exhibition tells the story of the industry and also follows the course of the River Marden from it source in Calstone, through Calne and out to Stanley, relating the history of each of the 15 mills that stood along this short, but fast flowing stretch of river."

The summer exhibition, illustrated with many historic and current photographs, has many items relating to the woollen cloth trade on display, including two early 18th century books; a clothiers sample book and a dye book showing what colours were available.

Practical spinning and weaving demonstrations by members of the Wiltshire Guild of Spinners, Weavers and Dyers, have already taken place and will be repeated during Heritage Week which starts on September 7.

The exhibition itself will run to September 27 with the Heritage Centre open 10am to 4pm from Wednesday to Saturday and 2pm to 4pm on Sunday.