Situated on the caravan route to India in central Persia is the town of Kashan famed as one of the top-quality rug production areas. They have been producing and exporting carpets of the highest artistic craftsmanship over several centuries. Manchester signifies that the wool used in the rugs is very special, it was refined in Manchester England and then exported to Kashan for weaving. Manchester wool continued to be used through the 1920's