Whitchurch Silk Mill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Whitchurch Silk Mill |
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| Type | Fulling mill Silk mill |
| Location | Whitchurch |
| OS grid reference | SU4625247901 |
| Area | Hampshire |
| Built | 1800 |
| Owner | Hampshire Buildings Preservation Trust |
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Listed Building – Grade II*
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| Official name: Whitchurch Silk Mill | |
| Designated | 10 Jan 1953 |
| Reference no. | 1092645 |
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The Whitchurch Silk Mill is a special kind of factory called a watermill. It sits right on the River Test in the town of Whitchurch, Hampshire, England. This old building is so important that it's officially protected as a Grade II* listed building. This means it has a lot of historical value.
Contents
History of the Silk Mill
Building a Mill by the River
The Whitchurch Silk Mill was built in the year 1800. A man named Henry Hayter constructed it on a piece of land called Frog Island. It's thought that there might have been an even older mill on this exact spot. Records from the Domesday Book mention four mills in the area.
From Cloth to Silk
When it was first built, the mill was a fulling mill. This type of mill helped to clean and thicken newly woven cloth. It was an important step in making fabric.
In 1817, William Madick bought the mill. He decided to change what it made. Instead of processing cloth, it started to "throw" silk. This process turns raw silk fibers into strong threads.
Busy Times at the Mill
Later, in 1844, two merchants from Manchester, Alexander Bannerman and John Spencer, took over the mill. Then, in 1846, the mill's manager, William Chappell, bought it from them.
At this time, the mill was very busy. It had 108 people working there. This included many young people, with 39 workers being under the age of 13.
Making Silk for Famous Brands
By 1866, the Hide family owned the mill. They kept it in their family until 1955. During this time, the mill wove silk for Burberry. Burberry, a famous clothing company, used this silk for the colorful linings inside their raincoats.
After the Hide family, the mill was owned by Ede and Ravenscroft. They used it to make special gowns for lawyers and university graduates. They continued this work until 1985.
Becoming a Museum
In 1985, the Hampshire Buildings Preservation Trust bought the mill. They worked hard to fix it up and make it ready for visitors. After lots of renovation, the mill opened to the public in 1990.
Even more recently, in December 2012, the people who manage the mill decided to start making silk again. So, you can still see silk being woven there today!
Who Manages the Mill?
The Whitchurch Silk Mill building is owned by the Hampshire Buildings Preservation Trust. However, a special group called the Whitchurch Silk Mill Trust manages it day-to-day. This trust is a registered charity.
The Trust works to keep the mill running and to preserve its history. They explain their goals on the UK Charity Commission website. They say they "weav[e] silk on Victorian machinery." They also "educate visitors about silk" and "restore its historic machinery." Local groups and people in the community have helped a lot to bring silk weaving back to the mill.
How the Mill Works
Powering the Machines
The mill used to get its power from a large water wheel. This wheel was about 1.68 meters (5 feet 6 inches) across. The water wheel turned a system of shafts and belts. These shafts then powered all the weaving machines.
The Weaving Looms
Today, the mill has 15 weaving machines, called looms.
- 10 of these are Tappet looms, made between 1890 and 1932.
- 3 are Dobby looms, from the 1950s.
- 2 are Hattersley looms, from the 1960s, which were brought to the mill in 1972.
Now, each loom has its own electric motor. This means they don't rely on the water wheel anymore. The mill also has other old machines. These include a warping mill and winding frames, which are also from the 1890s. They are used to prepare the silk threads for weaving.
Visiting the Mill
The Whitchurch Silk Mill is open for visitors. You can see the old machinery and watch silk being woven. They also take special orders for silk products. There is a gift shop where you can buy souvenirs. You can also enjoy a snack or drink at the tea room on site.
Images for kids
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Weaving machines inside the mill
Find Out More
- Whitchurch Silk Mill official website: http://www.whitchurchsilkmill.org.uk/
- Description of Silk Mill on town's official website: http://whitchurch.org.uk/2010/01/whitchurch-silk-mill/
