Yarn Barton Mill and Weaving Sheds Beaminster

Transcription

1 Yarn Barton Mill and Weaving Sheds Beaminster Duncan Harris (February 2014) (I wish to thank many people from the museum and Beaminster who have provided the information for this document)

2 Yarn Barton Mill and Weaving Sheds, Beaminster History of mill About the year 1790 the textile industry of the county was chiefly concerned with the manufacture of sail-cloth " centreing in the town of Beaminster, under the direction of Messrs. Cox and Co., who employ about six hundred people in this business: and in and about the environs of Beaminster, there are upwards of 2,000 people employed by them and others 17. It was the site of a water-powered spinning mill down by the stream (diverted for the purpose away from its original bed down the middle of Fleet Street), a sailcloth factory nearer the road and a large open area used to bleach and dry the spun yarn in line with strict Admiralty rules. The land was owned by the Cox family, several of whom across different generations managed the company, which was called Cox & Co. Up to 1870 the mill was working with men and women. Horse and wagons bring the flax to Yarn Barton 15. It closed in that year. The few looms that were then at work ceased for ever and the factory doors were closed. The present allotment garden was once an extensive green, used as a drying ground for yarn, hence its name " Yarn Barton" A portion of the Yarn Barton weaving sheds which stood where the Institute and Public Hall is now built destroyed by fire; at the time used as a tinman s workshops and stables, picturesque old covered gateway entrance to the allotment gardens also destroyed (over gateway: factory bell) March Beaminster Parish Council meeting. "The Food Production Committee... The question of taking the old mill at Yarnbarton and keeping pigs therein was dropped..." The derelict mill was finally demolished to make way for the doctor's surgery 17. Owners 1820(?) Cox family called Cox & Co Taken over by Thomas Frampton & Son including the spinning mill Samuel and George Cox, sailcloth manufacturers, partnership dissolved. (Salisbury and Winchester Journal 20/1/1834 p4 col1) To be let Sail cloth manufactory, with weaving and combing shops, store rooms bucking house and out buildings with close of land called yarn barton measuring 2 acres. With convenient house and garden. Apply Peter Cox (Sherborne Mercury 03/08/1835 p1col) 1841 To be let All this weaving shops furnished with looms, store rooms and bucking house, well supplied with water, excellent bleaching ground (2 acres 36 perches) within walled fence. Now in occupation of Frampton and Son Apply Peter Cox (Sherborne Mercury 17/2/1844 p1 col3) 18. Location Off Fleet Street from Public Hall behind houses to Barton End 12. Large green for bleaching yarn 12, 13. Yarn Barton was the extensive area, now principally a car park, between lower Fleet Street and the perimeter wall of the Manor House 16. OS Explorer Map 116 ST

3 Processes After pressing and beating the materials (hemp and flax) in mills for that purpose, and combing and cleaning, it affords employment in the process of spinning 17. Bleaching of yarn. Hemp and flax was pressed and beaten in mills. Yarn twisted, cleaned and softened for the weaver. Sacks also made for grain and flour. Sailcloth factory finally closed about 1870, Yarn Barton. 8 Products Spun yarn, sacks, sailcloth. Power Sources Water about 6-10 hp. Identified as one of three in Beaminster with total of 18hp 9. Map of leat from Tithe Map Possible mill Possible bucking house Extracts from Tithe map with streams and ponds superimposed 19. Possible weaving sheds All water has been shown in blue because all seem to be man-made. The apportionment does not include the mill, bucking house or weaving sheds! 20. The top pond does not exist any longer and that stream seems to be underground from Shortmoor. The other stream has a different course.

4 Employees Age ranges employed in mills Netherbury Beaminster Hooke Broadwindsor Factory Inspectors data 2

5 By the end of the 18th century, Samuel Cox, at Yarn Barton, was said to have employed nearly 600 people manufacturing sailcloth For all three mills in Beaminster: 1 male between 12 and 13, 1 female between 12 and 13; 7 males between 13 and 14, 6 females between 13 and 14; 2 males and 3 females between 14 and 15; 1 female between 16 and 17; 2 females between 18 and 19; 2 males and 5 females between 19 and 20; 9 females 20 to 21; 13 males and 27 females under 21; 7 females 21 and upwards. Totals 12 males and 34 females 8. (About 1838) After combing and cleaning, spun by women and children paid 2d per lb. Spinning 4 hours per day 8d a day. Children paid 3d a day to turn the spinning wheel from 6-9 winter, 7-8 summer 8. (Date unclear) This manufactory is a great support for poor people: it affords employment in the process of spinning to women and children, who are paid at the rate of two pence per pound; they can spin about four pounds a day, amounting to eight pence per daily earnings; besides which the manufacturer pays two or three pence per day to a child to turn the wheel; it is then twisted, cleaned, and softened for the weaver. The sail-cloth is made in pieces of about forty yards each, yard wide, and worth from 15d. to 17d. per yard. Sacks for grain and flour are also made here, and those without a seam to hold each four bushels, nine gallons measure, at 37s. per dozen 18. Most of the industries at Beaminster had died out long before Manufacture of sail canvas had died after Peninsula War, once noted Beaminster cloth coats and towels Miss F O Cox only remembered one loom at work in Customers No information but probably sail making in Crewkerne and Merriott. Landscape legacies The car park at Yarn Barton in Beaminster is the only remaining part of the complex. The buildings on the right entering the car park are modified versions of the old buildings that were demolished. The surgery is in front of where the mill was situated. The larger pond is still in the Manor house gardens feeding an artificial waterfall. There is a tradition that the arches in the car park walls (see photographs) were the ends of the weaving sheds.

6 Photographs Buildings on entrance to Yarn Barton before demolition 15.

7 Derelict Mill c 1950? One in museum MODES in colour

8 The old wall at Yarn Barton Car Park, Beaminster, whose arches may mark the location of former weaving sheds There is also a c1903 photograph at Dorset County Museum old weaving sheds.

9 References 1 Hine, Richard (1914) The History of Beaminster, Pg Codd A (1864) Diaries of his incumbency Pg 282 (Copy in Beaminster Museum reference section) 3 Angela Trotman (Beaminster museum folders), Volume 2, Apprenticeships Eedle, Marie (Beaminster museum filing cabinet) Notes: Extracts from trade directories 4 Marie Eedle notes 5 Angela Trotman (Beaminster museum folders), Volume 2, Beaminster Rate Books, 6 Pigot (1844) Trade Directory. 7 House of Commons Parliamentary Papers On-line, 1839(41). Return of Mill and Factories which have neglected to transmit Returns to Inspectors, : Number of Persons employed in Cotton, Woollen, Worsted, Flax and Silk Factories of United Kingdom. Pp House of Commons Parliamentary Papers On-line, 1839(41). Return of Mill and Factories which have neglected to transmit Returns to Inspectors, : Number of Persons employed in Cotton, Woollen, Worsted, Flax and Silk Factories of United Kingdom Pp Eedle, Marie (Beaminster museum filing cabinet) Notes: Extracts from trade directories 10 Beaminster Draft Conservation Area Appraisal, Dorchester, West Dorset District Council undated (post-2009) 11 Claridge,. Dorset, Pp 37, Eedle, Marie (1984) A History of Beaminster, Chichester, Phillimore, Pg Hine, Richard, (1914) The History of Beaminster, Pg Bridport News 29 March 1918 (found by Maureen Stollery, 8 March 2013) 15 Image from Bridport Hemp and Flax exhibition boards. 16 Museum publication Hanging by a Thread: Our Flax and Hemp Heritage Pg 53

10 17 Hine R (1914) The History of Beaminster Taunton, Barnicott and Pearce, Pp Richard Sims Beaminster Summary document received 13/01/ Beaminster Tithe Map