Another local one for me, knew about it for a long time, even before I got into exploring. Large mills are a rarity down south, so I couldn't not get myself in the biggest in the South West! Would have liked to have done the Tone Works, but short of shimmying across a pipe, there's no way in, and it's covered in scaffolding, so some sort of work is taking place. Anyways, to the interesting part!
The History -
Background:
Tonedale Mills, owned by the Fox Brothers, was the largest textiles mill in the South West, specialising in the production of Taunton Serge. This material was renowned for being a lightweight, yet sufficiently thick wool product. Production of Taunton Serge began during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I as a cottage industry ran by John Were of Pinksmoor Mill.
Later, Edward Fox married into the Were family by wedding Anna Were. In 1747 Thomas Fox, who would later go on to build up the Tonedale business, was born.
By 1750, the family had a Fulling Mill on the current site of the Tone Works, and the business thrived over the next 17 years. After training in the Netherlands and Germany, Thomas joined the business in 1768. He became a partner in 1772, and eventually the sole proprietor in 1796.
Tonedale Mills:
In 1796, Thomas Fox purchased an old flour mill at Tonedale in order to centralise the works processes. This venture proved successful, with a marked increase in both quality and quantity of material produced.
The oldest mill on the site isn't fully original. Only the original walls and water power features remain, due to suffering a serious fire in 1820, sustaining severe damage. The staircases, floors and roof all date from the reconstruction, and the mill is probably the second oldest example of 'fireproof' cast iron-framed construction in the South West. The complex was a rare example in the Woollen industry, as it integrated ancillary processes on the same site.
Thomas Fox renamed the company to Fox Brothers in 1826. The business continued to thrive, at its peak employing 3,600 people at Tonedale, producing 6,500 metres of material each day. A further 1,400 people were employed in the wider business, with subsidiary factories at Cullompton, Culmstock, Uffculme, Wiveliscombe and Weston-Super-Mare. A further subsidiary was established with the acquisition of the William Bliss Mill, located in Chipping Norton, in 1900. Annual turnover peaked at £1.5m in 1919 (£61.6m equivalent today).
Dyers working for Fox Brothers were instrumental in developing a khaki dye in 1900. It was first used by British soldiers in the Second Boer War (1899-1902). During WW1, 8000 miles of the material was produced, alongside 70,000 pairs of Puttees (a garment for the lower leg, between the ankle and the knee) per week. Puttee production continued into the 1980s, as some colonial forces still wore them.
The Mills stayed in full production until the 1980s, when operations were scaled back significantly. A small scale operation continues today on part of the site, with the company celebrating its 250th year in business this year.
Sources
Tonedale Mills - Wikipedia
Fox Flannel
Report from Tonedale Mills, Site Assessment | Historic England
The Explore -
Explored with a non member, focusing on the 1863-73 Mill. I did a recce and found an access point prior to actually going. Found our way in through an open door, and ended up on a staircase pretty much immediately. Little did we know, Secca had done a sneaky job with a shiny new camera...
As soon as we got up the first flight of steps, we were directly in line with it, opposite us through the window. Didn't bother me too much, but my friend wanted to scarper, so ended up getting the explore done pretty quickly.
I wandered to the top of the stairs, there was very little to be seen on this side of the building, but got a nice view over the rest of the mill complex, although it's in a very poor state, except the buildings that have had renovation started on them.
Headed back down and through the ground floor, there's not much to be seen here, looks to be in use as storage for window frames etc from around the mill.
Got to another staircase and headed up... It would definitely be unwise to stray from the concrete section, as the floor isn't the best, some levels have fallen through around the mill, others have had the flooring removed.
Encountered a section of collapsed brickwork on the 3rd floor, and what I'm assuming to be some old looms... Didn't dare approach the machines though, didn't much fancy the idea of falling through considering the 2nd floor was already missing all it's floorboards...
Went up to the very top and saw a collapsed section of roof as a reward for the effort.
Wanted to have a poke around some of the other buildings, but I was also starting to feel like we had outstayed our welcome, so we proceeded to leave... Lo and behold, Secca had arrived in his van and was just heading through the front gates to look for us... Only took 45 minutes to arrive, reckon we disturbed the poor sod's Sunday Roast
Externals -
I do enjoy seeing a vaulted ceiling -
Oddities -
I had to do a revisit with the drone, Mills are very photogenic after all! Didn't attempt to get inside on this occasion, far too many people around to go unnoticed...
The 1863 Mill -
The Carding and Spinning Shed -
The Chimney -
The Tonedale Complex -
The Tone Works -
View of Tonedale from Tone Works, I believe some of the weaving sheds stood where the housing estate now lies...
Thanks for looking
The History -
Background:
Tonedale Mills, owned by the Fox Brothers, was the largest textiles mill in the South West, specialising in the production of Taunton Serge. This material was renowned for being a lightweight, yet sufficiently thick wool product. Production of Taunton Serge began during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I as a cottage industry ran by John Were of Pinksmoor Mill.
Later, Edward Fox married into the Were family by wedding Anna Were. In 1747 Thomas Fox, who would later go on to build up the Tonedale business, was born.
By 1750, the family had a Fulling Mill on the current site of the Tone Works, and the business thrived over the next 17 years. After training in the Netherlands and Germany, Thomas joined the business in 1768. He became a partner in 1772, and eventually the sole proprietor in 1796.
Tonedale Mills:
In 1796, Thomas Fox purchased an old flour mill at Tonedale in order to centralise the works processes. This venture proved successful, with a marked increase in both quality and quantity of material produced.
The oldest mill on the site isn't fully original. Only the original walls and water power features remain, due to suffering a serious fire in 1820, sustaining severe damage. The staircases, floors and roof all date from the reconstruction, and the mill is probably the second oldest example of 'fireproof' cast iron-framed construction in the South West. The complex was a rare example in the Woollen industry, as it integrated ancillary processes on the same site.
Thomas Fox renamed the company to Fox Brothers in 1826. The business continued to thrive, at its peak employing 3,600 people at Tonedale, producing 6,500 metres of material each day. A further 1,400 people were employed in the wider business, with subsidiary factories at Cullompton, Culmstock, Uffculme, Wiveliscombe and Weston-Super-Mare. A further subsidiary was established with the acquisition of the William Bliss Mill, located in Chipping Norton, in 1900. Annual turnover peaked at £1.5m in 1919 (£61.6m equivalent today).
Dyers working for Fox Brothers were instrumental in developing a khaki dye in 1900. It was first used by British soldiers in the Second Boer War (1899-1902). During WW1, 8000 miles of the material was produced, alongside 70,000 pairs of Puttees (a garment for the lower leg, between the ankle and the knee) per week. Puttee production continued into the 1980s, as some colonial forces still wore them.
The Mills stayed in full production until the 1980s, when operations were scaled back significantly. A small scale operation continues today on part of the site, with the company celebrating its 250th year in business this year.
Sources
Tonedale Mills - Wikipedia
Fox Flannel
Report from Tonedale Mills, Site Assessment | Historic England
The Explore -
Explored with a non member, focusing on the 1863-73 Mill. I did a recce and found an access point prior to actually going. Found our way in through an open door, and ended up on a staircase pretty much immediately. Little did we know, Secca had done a sneaky job with a shiny new camera...
As soon as we got up the first flight of steps, we were directly in line with it, opposite us through the window. Didn't bother me too much, but my friend wanted to scarper, so ended up getting the explore done pretty quickly.I wandered to the top of the stairs, there was very little to be seen on this side of the building, but got a nice view over the rest of the mill complex, although it's in a very poor state, except the buildings that have had renovation started on them.
Headed back down and through the ground floor, there's not much to be seen here, looks to be in use as storage for window frames etc from around the mill.
Got to another staircase and headed up... It would definitely be unwise to stray from the concrete section, as the floor isn't the best, some levels have fallen through around the mill, others have had the flooring removed.
Encountered a section of collapsed brickwork on the 3rd floor, and what I'm assuming to be some old looms... Didn't dare approach the machines though, didn't much fancy the idea of falling through considering the 2nd floor was already missing all it's floorboards...
Went up to the very top and saw a collapsed section of roof as a reward for the effort.
Wanted to have a poke around some of the other buildings, but I was also starting to feel like we had outstayed our welcome, so we proceeded to leave... Lo and behold, Secca had arrived in his van and was just heading through the front gates to look for us... Only took 45 minutes to arrive, reckon we disturbed the poor sod's Sunday Roast
Externals -
I do enjoy seeing a vaulted ceiling -
Oddities -
I had to do a revisit with the drone, Mills are very photogenic after all! Didn't attempt to get inside on this occasion, far too many people around to go unnoticed...
The 1863 Mill -
The Carding and Spinning Shed -
The Chimney -
The Tonedale Complex -
The Tone Works -
View of Tonedale from Tone Works, I believe some of the weaving sheds stood where the housing estate now lies...
Thanks for looking
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