The declining textile industry turned to the production of flax canvas.

Oil paintings on hemp and/or flax canvas have stayed in fine condition for centuries.

At the end of the 16th century, its textile production specialized in fine flax canvas ("batiste" and lawn).

The most difficult task, Mr. Wyld said, was to make the original flax canvas, to which the cartoon was crudely glued in the 18th century and which was distorted by the impact of the blast, shrink back to normal size.