Merton Abbey Mills facts for kids
Merton Abbey Mills is a really old factory site in London, England. It's near where a medieval priory (a type of monastery) used to be. Today, it's a lively place with lots of different shops and businesses, especially craft stores.
Contents
A Look Back at Merton Abbey Mills
This place has a long history, especially with making fabrics. The River Wandle, which flows nearby, was super important. It powered watermills and provided water for many industrial processes.
From Watermills to Textiles
The first textile works here started way back in 1667. Then, in the early 1700s, some people called Huguenots (French Protestants who came to England) set up silk factories at Merton Abbey Mills. They used the river's power to spin silk.
Liberty & Co. and Famous Fabrics
You might know Liberty & Co., a famous department store. They have been connected to Merton Abbey Mills since the 1800s. Many of their popular fabrics for clothes and furniture were made here by a company called Littler and Co.
In 1904, Liberty & Co. took over the Littler site completely. They continued to make textiles at Merton Abbey Mills until 1972. Other companies kept making fabrics there until 1982.
Merton Abbey Mills During World War II
During World War II, part of the factory was used for a different purpose. Workers here helped build gun-turrets for the Bristol Blenheim fighter-bomber aircraft. This shows how important the site was during the war!
Merton Abbey Mills Today
Today, Merton Abbey Mills is a fun and creative place. It's now a crafts market where you can find unique handmade items. In the summer, it hosts a theatre and music festival called Abbeyfest.
Many of the old buildings from the time of William Morris (a famous designer) and even earlier still stand. You can find displays that tell the story of this historic site. A water-mill still turns in the summer, showing how things used to work.
The "colourhouse," an industrial building from the mid-1700s, is now a children's theatre. Both the water-mill and the colour house are special buildings, listed as Grade II, meaning they are protected for their historical importance.
Images for kids
-
View along the banks of the Wandle, with the watermill at the rear
-
The former "colourhouse"
-
Arts and Crafts building of 1912, used by Liberty & Co. designers.
-
Gateway to Merton Abbey, 2008
-
Commemorative plaque
