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whilst researching fabric colours, came across this which indicates the colours you can get from British plant flowers, leaves and roots

How about woad for blue?

Interesting stuff Dave. Muted colors, but a wider selection than some would have us believe was available. I am somewhat hesitant to inquire about the item titled Red Hot Poker.

kniphovia 

Quote from: Holly on August 06, 2022, 12:57:11 AM
kniphovia 

Edward II's favourite flower.

Quote from: Holly on August 06, 2022, 12:57:11 AM
kniphovia 

Which is a native of South Africa.

Quote from: Erpingham on August 06, 2022, 08:39:14 AM

Quote from: Holly on August 06, 2022, 12:57:11 AM
kniphovia 

And my granny's favourite 

Which is a native of South Africa.

There's quite a craft industry in natural dyes out there and lots of pretty colour shots.  However, modern dyers don't necessarily use ancient techniques and you have to watch that they use only materials available at the time.

true...although I suspect that there are many similar natural dyes not in the picture that were available and giving similar results

Quote from: Holly on August 06, 2022, 09:55:33 AM
true...although I suspect that there are many similar natural dyes not in the picture that were available and giving similar results

Curiosity piqued, I had a quick google about.  Here are three sites with some examples and recipes that demonstrate range of colour and how easy to obtain they were :

https://historicenterprises.com/fabrics-colors-c-100_198_200.html

https://www.jennydean.co.uk/mediaeval-dyes/

http://postej-stew.dk/2019/05/medieval-fabrics-part-2/

And, given your interest in Welsh sheep husbandry,  don't forget the various shades of natural wool colour (many older breeds have brown to black fleeces, rather than greys and creams)

Very true. Welsh Mountain sheep are traditionally dark brown or black

Does anyone have any indication as to how permanent or fast these natural dyes might have been?  I mean, most natural dyes tend to rapidly fade in sunlight, which could leave everything looking distinctly washed out.

Of course, these being dyes that are readily available from local plants, they would doubtless provide the colour to the lower classes.  Any ideas for other dyes, such as ochre, mananese oxide, indigo, etc?

There is some discussion of permanence in the articles I linked to - like lots of things, it varies   One of the sources of fading that we associate with natural dyes, their fastness in the wash, was less of an issue as clothes were rarely washed but fading by wear or sunlight would still be an issue. 

The origin of cloth also affected the colours available.  Home dyeing had less access to some ingredients than commercial dyeing - not just dyes but also chemicals used as mordants. 

Indigo was probably not used much in Northern Europe, as the same dye was available in woad (though less concentrated).  Not sure on minerals in dyes - most appear to have been plant based, though one of the sources I referred to has some recipes from a German medieval dye recipe book has colours based on pigments like cinnabar and verdigris.

Quote from: NickHarbud on August 06, 2022, 01:50:19 PM
Does anyone have any indication as to how permanent or fast these natural dyes might have been?  I mean, most natural dyes tend to rapidly fade in sunlight, which could leave everything looking distinctly washed out.

Hence the predominance of browns, as mountain sheep rarely look washed out and retain their colour 

Quote from: Jim Webster on August 06, 2022, 04:02:20 PM

Quote from: NickHarbud on August 06, 2022, 01:50:19 PM
Does anyone have any indication as to how permanent or fast these natural dyes might have been?  I mean, most natural dyes tend to rapidly fade in sunlight, which could leave everything looking distinctly washed out.

Hence the predominance of browns, as mountain sheep rarely look washed out and retain their colour 

especially Welsh Mountain sheep as they are permanently soaked!