So a few days past and me and Mookie began our big road trip up North; by first going west to a beautiful Mill tucked away in the West Country. A place time seems to have forgotten, with little physical decay in place.
The mill remains a completely water-powered cloth finishing works, established by the Fox Brothers and Co and dates from 1830. The remains of the water wheel are still in-situ; including the line shafting and gearing.
An electric motor was later installed to supplement the water-wheel during times of drought; however, amazingly, the water wheel continued to be used for many decades after.
Simplifying the industrial process here; the mill comprises of a number of key areas to accommodate the various stages of production:
-A Fulling area, where wet cloth was dried, scoured, cleaned and milled to the desired finish.
-A dying room, adjacent to the fulling area which specialised in producing an indigo colouring.
-Reservoirs and Sluice gates, to manage the flow of water into the wheel chamber.
-The wheel chamber and a later power house.
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Amazingly, the works finally closed in 2000 and production was moved to a more contemporary location. The buildings and machinery are Grade II* listed, but continue to sit.
This was the last woollen mill in the West Country. The site is of European significance.
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More At:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/landie_man/sets/72157642390487303/
The mill remains a completely water-powered cloth finishing works, established by the Fox Brothers and Co and dates from 1830. The remains of the water wheel are still in-situ; including the line shafting and gearing.
An electric motor was later installed to supplement the water-wheel during times of drought; however, amazingly, the water wheel continued to be used for many decades after.
Simplifying the industrial process here; the mill comprises of a number of key areas to accommodate the various stages of production:
-A Fulling area, where wet cloth was dried, scoured, cleaned and milled to the desired finish.
-A dying room, adjacent to the fulling area which specialised in producing an indigo colouring.
-Reservoirs and Sluice gates, to manage the flow of water into the wheel chamber.
-The wheel chamber and a later power house.
.
Amazingly, the works finally closed in 2000 and production was moved to a more contemporary location. The buildings and machinery are Grade II* listed, but continue to sit.
This was the last woollen mill in the West Country. The site is of European significance.
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
#6
#7
#8
#9
#10
#11
#12
#13
#14
#15
More At:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/landie_man/sets/72157642390487303/
