Yarn Barton Sailcloth Factory. Broadwindsor

Transcription

1 Yarn Barton Sailcloth Factory Broadwindsor Duncan Harris (February 2014) (I wish to thank many people from the museum and the village who have provided the information for this document) 1

2 Yarn Barton Sailcloth Factory, Broadwindsor History of mill Broadwindsor had two flax mills, Yarn Barton and Sandpits Mill Farm producing sailcloth, developed by the Stoodley family 7. Sandpit and Yarn Barton had the same ownerships for centuries. Both initially produced sailcloth from handlooms and the latter later converted to steam-powered machinery. Flax and twine spinners later worked at Sandpit, perhaps supplying them for sailcloth making at Yarn Barton 3, 17..Yarn Barton had extensive areas for drying the sailcloth 17. There is some confusion over the mills at Broadwindsor because Leonard Studley sometimes refers to the old mill, presumably Sandpits Sale of manor including two mills (suggests Sandpit and Yarn Barton) for The Sailcloth Factory. The land in and around Broadwindsor was deemed to be some of the best for miles around for flax growing and in the 19 th Century there were three sailcloth factories operating in this district. One was situated at nearby Greenham, another at Sandpitt [sic], and the third at Yarn Barton in the village. There was no water power at Yarn Barton so all work was carried out on hand looms Sailcloth was still being made in Broadwindsor (circa) Yarn Barton off the Drimpton Road, the buildings of a substantial flax mill that closed 8. Both disused by about this date The mills at Sandpit and Broadwindsor were marked on the map as disused 1917 There is mention of a sale of The Yarn Barton, Broadwindsor in It is described as " a rich accommodation meadow, adjoining the George Inn,having a long frontage with the Crewkerne road, bounded on the west by a stream and has `A STONE AND SLATE FACTORY of FOUR FLOORS`, " The meadow is 5¼ acres, the factory was being used as pig sties, presumably only on one floor 11. Sold to W C Studley for Owners The name is spelled Stoodley, Stodeleigh,, Studely and Studley) (List give here is the same as for Sandpits) John Stodelegh 1828 John Studely 1851 John Studley Manufacturer Sailcloth, Merchant, Proprietor Joseph Studley Owner 310 Acres and Manufacturer William Goolden is "Sailcloth and twine manufacturer" living in Hayes 13 (Hayes is house almost opposite the Yarn Barton site.) 2

3 Location Yarn Barton off the Drimpton Road, the buildings of a substantial flax mill that closed c It stood at the back of the site that now has the primary school and many new houses. Booking House was a house near the entrance to Yarn Barton, perhaps used for booking in loads to the factory? 2. (Should this be Bucking House where the flax was bleached using vegetable lye and also boiled?) OS Explorer map 116 ST Processes Weaving sailcloth. Products Sailcloth: Broadwindsor had several mills and the Stoodley family running two mills that produced sailcloth at Sandpits and Broadwindsor 5. Power Sources Originally hand operated looms, but later steam: 20 h.p. by Exract from Tithe Map Weaving factory There does seem to be a stream near to the factory. It may have been used to ensure that the atmosphere was damp for easier working of the flax. There is no evidence that it was ever used for a water wheel. 3

4 Employees Sailcloth 'factory' at Yarn Barton run by Studleys, a factory for yarn-spinning, belonging to Mr. Studley, gives employment to a considerable number of the inhabitants principally females 1. but there was in it a Sail-cloth Manufactory, hand-loom weaving employed large numbers of hands, men and boys, women and girls worked at the factory 10 hours a day for 5 days and 8 hours on Saturday and wages were about 2/6d a week for young women, 3/6d or thereabout for young men Mills in Broadwindsor: 1 male and 3 females between 13 and 14; 1 male and 3 females between14 and 15; 2 females between 15 and 16; 2 females between 17 and 18; 2 females between 18 and 19; 2 females between 19 and 20; 2 males and 14 females under 21; 2 males and 8 females over 21. Totals 4 males and 22 females 3. In summary people appear to be living in the village, e.g. Chapel Street, Mill Lane, Fore Street, High Street etc., and are flax spinners, sailcloth weavers (handloom), yarn spoolers, flax hacklers and bleachers etc men, 30 women, 5 boys 9 (probably both mills at Broadwindsor) 1861 Richard Aplin, factory steam-engine driver; he lived at Hursey 6 ; in the village William Goolden is "Sailcloth and twine manufacturer" living in Hayes. The remaining 9 are in the village and talk of flax yarn, sailcloth, canvas etc in the village 15. Employed 40 people at peak

5 Age ranges employed in mills Netherbury Beaminster Hooke Broadwindsor Factory Inspectors data 3 5

6 First hand Description The most obvious mill-hand in the village was Mrs Sarah Osborne, and she had evidence of having worked in the old mill, she had only one arm, she lost her right arm in the loom which she was working there. She had an artificial arm, which was fitted with a metal crook to enable her to hold things. She disliked people seeing this, and often kept it covered under a scarf or shawl. I wonder how much compensation she received 2? Workhouse accounts 1799/1800 include receipts for hire of labour ¾d, including 11s 10d for children wheel turning men and women engaged in the sailcloth factory (now known as Yarn Barton) and those carrying on hand-loom weaving in their cottages 12. Boys and girls were employed, and in the workhouse accounts we find mentions of monies paid to inmates children for turning the wheel, this work would have been performed in the factory 2. Jack Smith told me that when the foreman went to get the factory key in the morning Mr Studley would come to the bedroom window at the back of the house, in his night shirt and night cap, lift the casement and slide the key down the roof of the lean-to domestics apartments for him to catch 2. Sandpit and Yarn Barton had the same ownerships for centuries. Both initially produced sailcloth from handlooms and the latter converted to steam-powered machinery later. In 1861 Richard Aplin stated his occupation on the census return as the factory steam-engine driver. Yarn Barton had extensive areas for drying the sailcloth. Flax and twine spinners also worked at Sandpit, perhaps supplying them for sailcloth making at Yarn Barton which closed around Sandpit is now an industrial site whilst Yarn Barton is a residential development of the same name 20. Customers No information although it would be expected that the sailcloth would go on to Crewkerne or Merriott for making up into sails. Landscape legacies Just to the north of the school there is a new housing estate called Yarn Barton. No buildings remain on the site from the days of the sailcloth factory/mill. 6

7 Photographs Yarn Barton Factory, Broadwindsor (Photograph from Beaminster Museum MODES) Yarn Barton Factory, Broadwindsor (Photograph from Beaminster Museum MODES 7

8 References 1 Pulman George (1875) The Book of the Axe (Pg 172) 2 Leonard Studley My Story (Pg 94-98) 3 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, Pg 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 Martin, Celia (2003) The Bridport Trade. Rope, and Net: Hemp and Flax. Bridport, The Constandros Press. Pg Census for Burstock 7 Netherbury & Broadwindsor Conservation Area Appraisal, Dorchester, West Dorset District Council undated (post-august 2007, Pg 8 8 Netherbury & Broadwindsor Conservation Area Appraisal, Dorchester, West Dorset District Council undated (post-august 2007), Pg census census 11 Studley, Olive(1984), History of Broadwindsor, Broadwindsor WI 12 Large, E H (undated), A short history of Broadwindsor census census 15 , Colin Bowditch 26 February Bridport News 6 July Patrick Lewis's book on Sandpit Mill book (details in Broadwindsor files in research section of Museum). 18 Extract from Exhibition boards, Bridport Flax and Hemp exhibition 8

9 19 Celia Carmichael notes and extracts from Patrick Lewis book (details in Broadwindsor files in research section of Museum). 9