Coldharbour Mill Museum is situated in the village of Uffculme close to the M5 motorway. It’s one of the UK’s oldest woollen mills, owned by the Fox Brothers a well-known local textile producer. The mill has produced many items over the years including cloth, textile and yarn. Nowadays it’s a working wool museum where visitors can explore and learn more about the history of a working textile mill, the work and processes involved.
Uffculme is one of the oldest villages in the area and mentioned in the Domesday Book. It’s thought that a mill of some kind has been active on the site since medieval times – originally built for corn – until the mill was eventually developed into a woollen textile business in 1797 by Thomas Fox. The site included land, a water wheel and a variety of buildings and after opening another site at Tonedale in Somerset Thomas Fox ran the business with his six sons. A key part of the Industrial Revolution, the company added a new water wheel to Coldharbour Mill in 1821 and steam engines were added in 1865.
As it continued to grow the business shifted to worsted spinning, which enabled the company to increase demand, producing high quality and much sought after products, becoming very successful. The mill was powered by steam from 1865 right through to 1981, when the mill opened a working museum in 1982. It still continues to operate as a working museum today, giving visitors an exciting glimpse into an important south-west business. Throughout the year members of the Steam Volunteer Group demonstrate the old steam equipment, giving visitors the opportunity to see the old steam driven machinery in operation.
Things to see
There are many exhibits at the museum for visitors to see, including the steam equipment which mainly comes from this mill, but a few of the pieces are from the nearby – now closed – Tonedale Mill in Somerset. Other exhibits include weaving and spinning machines. Visitors can also see some of the old equipment in use, and experience what it would have been like to work in one of these factories and what life for families at the time was really like. There is also a section showing visitors some of the products that have been made at the site over time, including the production of Puttee’s during WWI and WWII.
Coldharbour Mill is a fantastic place and it gives visitors a real glimpse into the industrial past of Mid Devon. Not only does it still supply much loved products to a variety of companies, but it opens its doors to both locals and visitors from further afield so that they can learn more about its history, and it caters for school education visits too. As well as the incredibly interesting buildings, machinery and old working tools, the mill has a cafe, gift shop and some nice outside spaces for visitors including an outdoor play area for children and picnic area. The mill is also close to a lovely riverside walk, and only fifteen minutes walk from the heart of the village of Uffculme if visitors wish to venture further afield.
Visting Coldharbour Mill
So, if you’re looking for something interesting to do in Mid-Devon why not visit Coldharbour Mill. Around ten minutes drive from Junction 27 of the M5 motorway, it’s very easy to locate, all you need to do is follow the signs to Willand and then the brown visitor signs to Working Wool Museum, Uffculme. The nearest train station is Tiverton Parkway and there are buses to the village of Uffculme. To learn more about ticket prices and opening hours click the following link.
- Have you ever visited Coldharbour Mill? If so what did you like the most about it?
Article by Chrissie Parker, We Love Mid-Devon
Photos by Chrissie Parker.
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