Originally explored in 2005 by Oxygen Thief and later by a 14 year old Clebby who was innocently cycling by seeking adventure and took the opportunity to blag a report. (Its not recorded whether he had jam sandwiches and ginger beer in his bikes basket though.) This visit is directly down to Ourts suggestion and several months of polite pestering the poor site manager- don't think of just turning up,no one on site nor the security will let you in without him,ask us how we know...
BORING HISTORY BIT EVERYONE SKIMS THROUGH
Theres been a mill sited here since 1608 making fabrics.The mill produced the red fabrics used in soldiers uniforms (amongst other things.) By 1642 grants of protection during the Civil war were introduced,showing the importance of Stroud scarlet cloth to the Royalists. According to some sources by 1846 the mill still made cloth but had diversified,extending the site and becoming a saw mill too. Most of the original wooden buildings were burnt down by a serious fire twenty years later and were rebuilt in stone. By 1870 mention appears of 'wool loom/sorting,boring shops,dyehouses,carpentry shop,blacksmiths,willy house,boiler house and stock warehouse buildings.'
After changing hands numerous times over the years by the mid 1800's the mill had 49 power looms and 29 handlooms the three water wheels now having help from a 30hp steam-engine. The output shaft went through the floor above powering the Stocks and Giggs machinery. The mill was valued at £375.
In 1900 the entire site was sold to Thomas Bondworth and Sons who made carpets,a new factory was built in 1920 spinning the yarn just for Ham Mill but when that factory closed in '54 the Ham Mill span yarn for the parent Stourport company,as business diminished. By 2000 the 700 staff were looking for a job.
THE SITE TODAY
The main five story mill and Gatehouse are grade 2 listed since 1988.The mill was extended in 1825. The entire site is now owned by an Arabian company,Assael Architecture who have planning to re-develop the site,clearing waterways,landscaping gardens and building new properties creating a luxury development.
THE EXPLORE
Who would be stupid enough to leave a visit like this until the coldest/shortest days of the year? Enter stage left the UK's most hospitalised dynamic duo,myeslf and Ourt..
Google image as it is now...
and as planned...
The mill in all its glory
The saw mill side actually dwarfs the mill
Inside..
worth knowing but not reassuring..
Open backed lorries would reverse under here,bales would come out from the main building on the rails and be dropped down into the trailers
The Ashlar chimney,held together with framework and hope.It was extended when neighbours complained of the smoke hence the different brickwork.
The very top room of the mill,with the chill and ambience its like breathing pure 17th century air up here
Coming down a level is this lovely old winch-the boom extended out and moved stock to whatever floor it was needed at
From outside you can see the hole for the boom and the rope guides above each door
Some of the rooms are depressingly empty-some would say the romance was ripped out along with the looms
How it would have looked back in the day
One for Oxygen Thief!
The very root of the building-the water wheel culverts?
And first aid room
Paperwork circa 1937
During the war years Horsa wooden gliders wings were built here. 3'600 were built in total,these massive gliders would be towed behind a plane,many crashed into the Channel when the tow rope failed. Last year students building a cockpit replica were allowed to use the original building again,a nice touch. The finished cockpit is now in the Jet Age Museum,Staverton.
Bond Mill,just up the road,also played its part-it was a shadow factory in case a major armaments factory got bombed.
This is the mark 1 Horsa,early versions had an awkward side loading ramp barely able to take a jeeps weight.Later versions had a hinged tailpiece.
The enormous boiler which fed a huge steam tank outside
Beautiful cast iron door for clearing the chimney ash...
Looking up inside the chimney
Forgotten oil can
Dove shit shed,my favourite of the day
Some arty farty stuff for you if you've made it this far..
And just so we don't forget what these places were really like back then...
After two hours in the mill we emerged like newly hatched critters,blinking and squinting. After five hours on site we were exhausted but happy. We cant thank the foreman enough-passionate,knowledgable and friendly,a top bloke. As building work is due to start very shortly theres a very real chance we are going to be the last ever visitors. What a priviledge.
Hope you enjoyed,thanks for looking.
BORING HISTORY BIT EVERYONE SKIMS THROUGH
Theres been a mill sited here since 1608 making fabrics.The mill produced the red fabrics used in soldiers uniforms (amongst other things.) By 1642 grants of protection during the Civil war were introduced,showing the importance of Stroud scarlet cloth to the Royalists. According to some sources by 1846 the mill still made cloth but had diversified,extending the site and becoming a saw mill too. Most of the original wooden buildings were burnt down by a serious fire twenty years later and were rebuilt in stone. By 1870 mention appears of 'wool loom/sorting,boring shops,dyehouses,carpentry shop,blacksmiths,willy house,boiler house and stock warehouse buildings.'
After changing hands numerous times over the years by the mid 1800's the mill had 49 power looms and 29 handlooms the three water wheels now having help from a 30hp steam-engine. The output shaft went through the floor above powering the Stocks and Giggs machinery. The mill was valued at £375.
In 1900 the entire site was sold to Thomas Bondworth and Sons who made carpets,a new factory was built in 1920 spinning the yarn just for Ham Mill but when that factory closed in '54 the Ham Mill span yarn for the parent Stourport company,as business diminished. By 2000 the 700 staff were looking for a job.
THE SITE TODAY
The main five story mill and Gatehouse are grade 2 listed since 1988.The mill was extended in 1825. The entire site is now owned by an Arabian company,Assael Architecture who have planning to re-develop the site,clearing waterways,landscaping gardens and building new properties creating a luxury development.
THE EXPLORE
Who would be stupid enough to leave a visit like this until the coldest/shortest days of the year? Enter stage left the UK's most hospitalised dynamic duo,myeslf and Ourt..
Google image as it is now...
and as planned...
The mill in all its glory
The saw mill side actually dwarfs the mill
Inside..
worth knowing but not reassuring..
Open backed lorries would reverse under here,bales would come out from the main building on the rails and be dropped down into the trailers
The Ashlar chimney,held together with framework and hope.It was extended when neighbours complained of the smoke hence the different brickwork.
The very top room of the mill,with the chill and ambience its like breathing pure 17th century air up here
Coming down a level is this lovely old winch-the boom extended out and moved stock to whatever floor it was needed at
From outside you can see the hole for the boom and the rope guides above each door
Some of the rooms are depressingly empty-some would say the romance was ripped out along with the looms
How it would have looked back in the day
One for Oxygen Thief!
The very root of the building-the water wheel culverts?
And first aid room
Paperwork circa 1937
During the war years Horsa wooden gliders wings were built here. 3'600 were built in total,these massive gliders would be towed behind a plane,many crashed into the Channel when the tow rope failed. Last year students building a cockpit replica were allowed to use the original building again,a nice touch. The finished cockpit is now in the Jet Age Museum,Staverton.
Bond Mill,just up the road,also played its part-it was a shadow factory in case a major armaments factory got bombed.
This is the mark 1 Horsa,early versions had an awkward side loading ramp barely able to take a jeeps weight.Later versions had a hinged tailpiece.
The enormous boiler which fed a huge steam tank outside
Beautiful cast iron door for clearing the chimney ash...
Looking up inside the chimney
Forgotten oil can
Dove shit shed,my favourite of the day
Some arty farty stuff for you if you've made it this far..
And just so we don't forget what these places were really like back then...
After two hours in the mill we emerged like newly hatched critters,blinking and squinting. After five hours on site we were exhausted but happy. We cant thank the foreman enough-passionate,knowledgable and friendly,a top bloke. As building work is due to start very shortly theres a very real chance we are going to be the last ever visitors. What a priviledge.
Hope you enjoyed,thanks for looking.
Think i saw a mannequin being molested in that first aid room some time recently 
