mills – Page 2 – Industrial Heritage Networks

National Mills Weekend 2025: 10 & 11 May

March 10, 2025mikenevell

This year, SPAB’s National Mills Weekend will take place on 10 and 11 May. It will focus on the way that mills past and present have been recorded in pictorial form with the theme ‘Mills in Time’. 

The weekend is an annual celebration promoted by the Mills Section of SPAB.  Across the country hundreds of mills – including some not normally open to the public – will be taking part.

This year, SPAB are encouraging everyone (owner, volunteer, neighbour, or visitor) to share and display images of participating mills. These can be recent photographs or artworks (including embroideries, collages, films, or videos), or paintings, or drawings, and even old maps, postcards, or posters. To share your images go to the #NationalMillsWeekend Facebook page. Please remember to credit the copyright owner and photographer where known.

To check whether your local wind or water mill is opening during the weekend click on the individual site website or follow this link for further details: https://www.spab.org.uk/whats-on/events/national-mills-weekend-2025

SPAB-owned Fladbury Mill and Kibworth Harcourt Post Mill, which aren’t normally open to the public, will also be open for the weekend. To book go to the SPAB website.

*The waterwheel at Stretton Watermill, Cheshire. Image copyright Dr Michael Nevell.*

Spring 2025 Online Industrial Heritage Network Meetings

February 28, 2025mikenevell

The next round of online Industrial Heritage Network (IHN) meetings is taking place this Spring. The IHN networks are a chance to meet those working, volunteering, or researching in the industrial heritage sector.

Four lunchtime IHN meetings will be held in late March, and will run from 12noon to 1pm, and there will be an IHSO update followed by news and updates from members. The first round of 2025 IHN meetings will take place on the following dates and will include the following groups:

21 March – East of England
25 March – South East
26 March -North East
31 March – London

Zoom links for the meetings will be sent to each region nearer the dates. If you would like to join any of these Industrial Heritage Networks as a member please email the IHSO here: mike.nevell@mikenevell

Mills Archive Trust’s ‘Living Heritage Appeal’

November 11, 2024mikenevell

Milsl Archive Trust volunteers learning new archibing skills. Image couresy fo the Mills Archive Trust.

The Mills Archive Trust’s ‘Living Heritage’ appeal is designed to keep alive the legacy of millers and millwrights found within the Trust’s archives, sharing this knoweldge with the public and providing life-changing experiences for their volunteers.

The Mills Archive Trust is a permanent repository for the documentary and photographic records of traditional and contemporary mills and milling, as well as similar structures dependent on traditional power sources, in the UK and beyond. It makes that material freely available for public inspection and use in research and learning.

Their latest appeal is designed to help volunteers acquire the skills needed to catalogue archives relating to specific millers and wind and watermill restorers and experts, such as David Nicholls (1938-2020), and Alan Stoyel. Not only does that help to save these archives and improve public access to them, but the skills acquired help many volunteers to find work within the hertiage sector.

The Mills Archive is one of the world’s great mill collections. It has rescued over three million documents and images that might otherwise have ended up in a landfill site. It is an Aladdin’s cave filled with memories and is free to use. The collections show the rich and diverse crafts, buildings, machinery, equipment, and people involved with mills in the UK and around the world. There is an urgent need to record and make public the technical details of these crafts and the potential impact of the loss of this aspect of our shared cultural heritage.

To donate to the Trust follow this link: https://new.millsarchive.org/donate/

North UK Mills Working Group Seminar on Hydro Power

September 13, 2024September 5, 2024mikenevell

The North UK Mills Working Group are holding a free online meeting about hydro electric power schemes on 9th October. The 1.5 hour meeting will include a presentation on hydro power at New Lanark Mills.

These meetings are for members of the public with an interest in mill heritage, owners or operators of commercial or converted historic mill buildings, and/or those with a full-time role in developing and/or running mills. Everyone welcome!

The North UK Mills Working Group is a collection of interested individuals and organisations (including Heritage Trust Network and SPAB Scotland) who have come together to explore how people and organisations working with mills could be better connected with each other and help keep these buildings, skills, and mill cultures alive and accessible. The group offers an opportunity for organisations working with or people interested in mill buildings to come together, network, and discuss.

To booka free place follow this link: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/north-uk-mills-group-october-2024-tickets-941975081827?aff=oddtdtcreator

New Lanark Cortton Mills. Image copyrigth Dr Michael Nevell.

Restoration Work is Helping to Preserve Craft Skills at Paradise Mill in Macclesfield

March 7, 2024mikenevell

The Grade II listed Paradise Silk Mill in Cheshire reopened to the public in February 2024 after a £309k National Heritage Memorial Fund backed restoration project, supported by building owners Allmand-Smith Ltd. This grant has helped the Silk Heritage Trust acquire a 125-year lease of the top floor of the mill. Paradise Mill, which produced luxury silk goods from 1862 until 1981, will once again be home to silk production, after restoration of two of the mill’s 19th century Jacquard looms.

Silk weaving has now joined the list of Endangered Heritage Craft Skills. The Silk Museum has secured funding from The Radcliffe Trust to develop a plan for the conservation of the looms alongside creative placements for emerging craftspeople. Director of the Silk Museum, Emma Anderson, said: “The looms tell remarkable stories of silk production in Macclesfield. It is essential that they are kept in working order so that visitors can experience the incredible sights and sounds of these historically-important machines. We need to revive and expand the technical knowledge of how to operate and care for them so they can continue to inspire future generations of weavers for years to come.”

The Museum is planning to return more of its collection of 26 Jacquard handlooms to working order . Tour guides at the museum, Daniel Hearn, and Trish Halloran, alongside Rebecca Faragher, who is a trained weaver, are undertaking the conservation of the building’s handlooms, in work supported by funding from the Association for Industrial Archaeology. Hearn said the restoration had required considerable effort. “Establishing a strong foundation in acquiring these skills means we are taking the first critical steps in ensuring that this niche type of Jacquard handloom weaving remains operational within the extraordinary time capsule that is Paradise Mill.” As part of the restoration project textile students Bea Uprichard and Ruth Farris, from Manchester Metropolitan University, have designed and woven a new silk – the first one to be created at the mill in decades.

Guided tours of the Silk Mill resumed in February. For more information follow this link: https://www.thesilkmuseum.co.uk/

*Warping drum for silk thread, Paradise Mill. Image copyright Dr Michael Nevell*

Mills Archive Trust Launch emPOWERed Project

January 16, 2024mikenevell

In late 2023 The Mills Archive Trust was awarded a grant of £198,751, made possible by the money raised by National Lottery Players, for the Reading emPOWERed research project. With funding until September 2025, The Mills Archive Trust will expand learning opportunities in the Reading area, Berkshire, about the history of wind and water power, revealing their course from traditional mills to modern turbines.

Wind and water power have the potential to address present and future climate needs. With the help of local people, groups, and experts nationwide, Reading emPOWERed will explore the resurging significance of wind and water power in the Reading area. The Mills Archive Trust will collaborate with local schools, arts groups, entrepreneurs, cultural groups and academics to deepen the local understanding of these energy sources. More details on the project can be found here: https://new.millsarchive.org/reading-empowered/

The Mills Archive Trust was established in 2002 as a permanent repository for historical and contemporary material on traditional mills and milling. It has rescued over 2 million documents and images that might otherwise have ended up in a landfill site.

Derby Museums Launch Flood Damage Appeal After Storm Babet

October 25, 2023mikenevell

*The Old Silk Mill, Derby, in 2014 before conversion to the Museum of Making*

Flooding as a result of Storm Babet has caused significant damaged to the Museum of Making in Derby, housed in the former Old Silk Mill. The Grade II Listed pioneering mill includes remains from the original water-powered silk mill built in 1717-21 by Thomas and John Lombe. The current form of the building dates from a major rebuild in 1910 after a fire destroyed much of the early 18th century building, with additional elements added in the recent conversion to the Museum of Making.

The mill building was designed to withstand some flooding and the recently refurbished museum increased this resilience. However, the water levels in October 2023 reached far higher than predicted during the redesign of the museum structure. The museum’s staff worked tirelessly to move as much as possible off the ground floor before the flood hit, but the damage appears to be substantial. As a charity, Derby Museums relies heavily on donations and earned income through events and catering, which is currently affected by the flooding and its aftermath.

Derby Museums have said that they will be doing a full assessment of the damage as soon as the water has receded and it is safe to enter the building. However, they note that their museums are already in a precarious financial position. As a result, they have launched a public appeal to help raise funds for the restoration and repair of the Museum of Making.

Donations, big or small, can be made through the Derby Museums website here: Derby Museums Donation Page – please select ‘Museum of Making’ as the reason for your gift.

*Flooding around the Museum of the Making, October 2023. Image Courtesy of Derby Museums.*

Cromford Mills Receives Funding for Next Stage of Conservation Works

February 19, 2023February 18, 2023mikenevell

The Arkwright Society has been awarded a £249,599 grant from the National Heritage Lottery Fund. This will support engagement activities at Cromford Mills and aid education about this internationally important textile site.

Critical to the long term sustainability of the site is the next phase of regeneration at Cromford Mills, which will focus on the repair and repurposing of the remaining buildings on the site, in particular the iconic ‘First Mill’ built by Sir Richard Arkwright in 1771. With £20,000 match funding from the Duke of Devonshire Charitable Trust, a refreshed masterplan will be commissioned, outlining a roadmap for the continuing regeneration of the Mills and a business plan for their future use. Sustainability is also a key theme for the Society, highlighted by the forthcoming installation of a turbine powered water wheel in one of the historic wheel pits at Cromford Mills. This work will help the Society make informed decisions as it writes the next chapter in the Cromford Mills story.

For further details follow this link: https://www.cromfordmills.org.uk/249599-funding-for-cromford-mills/

Hydro-electric Power Returns to Cromford Mills

August 9, 2022August 5, 2022mikenevell

The Arkwright Society has secured £330,000 from Severn Trent Water and Derbyshire County Council to install a new green energy system at Cromford Mills, Derbyshire. The original mill, restored and owned by the Society, was built in 1771 by Sir Richard Arkwright and was the world’s first successful water-powered cotton spinning mill. It is a key part of the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site.

The project will involve reinstating a waterwheel and installing a 20kW hydro-turbine to power the buildings. Water heat pumps will also be installed in the structure and an old turbine in nearby Cromford village will be restored. Work on the new power systems is due to begin in September 2022 with the aim of being fully operational by June 2023.

Simon Gill, the society’s operations director, said: “It’s probably the most significant thing that’s going to happen here to return water power to the original mill that created the first factory system at the start of the Industrial Revolution.” He added that an aspect of the scheme which was “close to his heart” was the reduction of the site’s carbon footprint and emissions. When complete the project will also be used to educate people visiting the site about renewable energy sources. For further details on the site follow this link: https://www.cromfordmills.org.uk/about/

Shrewsbury Flaxmill Friends Seek Volunteers Ahead of Site Opening

March 15, 2022mikenevell

Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings will be opening to the public later in 2022. The Friends of the Flaxmill Maltings will manage the new interactive visitor experience, which will bring the past, present, and future of the site to life. They will also offer guided tours and run the shop.

The Flaxmill Maltings is recognised as the first iron-framed building in the world, and has undergone a £20.7 million renovation. The Friends are calling for additional volunteers ahead of the opening. From front of house to behind the scenes roles, the Friends need more people who have some time that they can give to this internationally important landmark.

As part of their recruitment drive they are holding a series of volunteer recruitment events. This will include manning a stall at the Shrewsbury Museum and Arts Gallery between 10am and 4pm on March 19, with further events planned to be held on April 8 and April 9 at the Flaxmill Maltings site. At these events you’ll be able to meet the Friends staff and some of their existing volunteers, and find out what’s involved in being a part of their friendly team.

Further details here: https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/local-hubs/shrewsbury/2022/03/10/flaxmill-friends-seek-volunteers-ahead-of-site-opening-later-this-year/#

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