Solva Woollen Mill facts for kids
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Solva Mill waterwheel
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 Location in Pembrokeshire
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| Operated | 1907 |
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| Location | Middle Mill, Pembrokeshire, Pembrokeshire, Wales |
| Coordinates | 51°53′19″N 5°11′24″W / 51.888557°N 5.190040°W |
| Industry | Woollen industry in Wales |
| Products | Woven rugs and runners |
Solva Woollen Mill is a special place in Middle Mill, a small village near Solva in Pembrokeshire, Wales. It's a woollen mill that has been making beautiful things from wool since 1907. Imagine a factory that's been working for over 100 years!
Contents
The Mill's Story: How It Started
Solva Woollen Mill is thought to be the oldest wool mill still working in Pembrokeshire. A long time ago, in 1900, there were 26 wool mills in this area! Today, Solva Woollen Mill is one of only two wool mills left in the county.
In 1907, a man named Tom Griffiths moved his mill from St Davids to a brand new building in Middle Mill. This new mill was powered by a huge water wheel, which was 10 feet (about 3 meters) across!
Early Machines and Products
The mill had special machines to clean and prepare the sheep's wool. It also had several small power looms and a hand loom. A loom is a machine that weaves threads together to make fabric. The hand loom was used for making stair carpets.
At first, the cloth was sent to a nearby "fulling mill" to be finished. Fulling is a process that makes the wool thicker and stronger. Later, Solva Mill got its own fulling machine. The mill made many different wool products, like tweeds (a rough wool fabric), blankets, flannel (a soft wool fabric), stair carpets, and wool for knitting.
Did you know that in 1929, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Ramsay MacDonald, even had a suit made from tweed from Middle Mill?
New Owners and Modern Changes
In 1950, Tom Griffith's son-in-law, Eric Hemmingway, took over the mill. He started making carpets using the power looms. He also brought in bigger and more modern machines. The old water wheel was replaced with an engine that ran on oil.
In the early 1960s, another building was added for weaving. New electric looms were installed because electricity became available. The mill stopped cleaning and spinning its own wool. Instead, it started using yarn that was already spun and dyed. By the 1970s, most of what the mill made was carpeting. In 1986, the mill was sold to new owners.
Solva Woollen Mill Today
The old water wheel was fixed up in 2007, making it look new again. In 2011, the original mill building was renovated. Now, this old building is a shop and a tea room where visitors can relax.
Today, Solva Woollen Mill is famous for making flat woven rugs and runners. These beautiful rugs are sold not only in the United Kingdom but also in countries like Japan, the United States, and Australia.
Royal Visitors
Even members of the Royal Family have visited Solva Woollen Mill! The Prince of Wales (who is now King Charles III) and the Duchess of Cornwall (who is now Queen Camilla) have both visited the mill. They even used rugs from Solva Woollen Mill to decorate their home at Llwynywermod.
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Water wheel
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Loom
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Loom
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