Stanley Mill, Stroud, Gloucs, March 2011
OK, so a bit late in posting this, but wanted to sit on it for a while for my own reasons.
This was part of a couple of sites I did on this day, and many thanks to Urbanity & Dangerous Dave for the company, and also a huge thanks to Clebby for a few hints on the access. (this wasn’t a permission visit! But to get through all the locked doors takes a bit of sideways & lateral thinking)
On a personal note, whilst not my favourite explore, it has produced some of my best, and favourite photos, which i’m quite surprised at, as we were rushing a bit.
A bit of history on the site, (the net has very little info on this place!)
Construction of the current mill building begun in 1812, with the main building completed in 1813. However, there is evidence that textile manufacture has been located on the site since the 12th century. When complete, it was sold to Harris and Maclean for £8,655. Various extensions were built, including a long two storey building in 1815. It was originally powered by no less than five huge water wheels, with a small steam engine being added in 1824, but in the summer of 1834 the supply of water to the wheels was so irregular that the mill could not operate efficiently. By 1839, the steam engine had been increased to 50hp, and it was sold to Nathaniel Marling for £27,000. Marling's is a company still making carpets on site today, although in more modern outbuildings.
The view from the back.
One of the many empty floors
The top floor of the buildings have stunning light, and loads of character. It will be a luxury apartment soon, with a hefty price tag no doubt!
A few shots of the ‘machine floor’, which is by far the best part of the site. Not quite a museum, one lone volunteer maintains all the stunningly restored equipment, and allows permission visits 3 times a year.
We did visit the workshops aswell, but to be honest, having been blown away by what we had just seen, the workshops did prove a bit Derp!
What future this building holds is in doubt, but the amount of work that has been undertaken to restore the spinning and weaving machines, really should be recognised, and perhaps some form of museum would be fitting.
OK, so a bit late in posting this, but wanted to sit on it for a while for my own reasons.
This was part of a couple of sites I did on this day, and many thanks to Urbanity & Dangerous Dave for the company, and also a huge thanks to Clebby for a few hints on the access. (this wasn’t a permission visit! But to get through all the locked doors takes a bit of sideways & lateral thinking)
On a personal note, whilst not my favourite explore, it has produced some of my best, and favourite photos, which i’m quite surprised at, as we were rushing a bit.
A bit of history on the site, (the net has very little info on this place!)
Construction of the current mill building begun in 1812, with the main building completed in 1813. However, there is evidence that textile manufacture has been located on the site since the 12th century. When complete, it was sold to Harris and Maclean for £8,655. Various extensions were built, including a long two storey building in 1815. It was originally powered by no less than five huge water wheels, with a small steam engine being added in 1824, but in the summer of 1834 the supply of water to the wheels was so irregular that the mill could not operate efficiently. By 1839, the steam engine had been increased to 50hp, and it was sold to Nathaniel Marling for £27,000. Marling's is a company still making carpets on site today, although in more modern outbuildings.
The view from the back.
One of the many empty floors
The top floor of the buildings have stunning light, and loads of character. It will be a luxury apartment soon, with a hefty price tag no doubt!
A few shots of the ‘machine floor’, which is by far the best part of the site. Not quite a museum, one lone volunteer maintains all the stunningly restored equipment, and allows permission visits 3 times a year.
We did visit the workshops aswell, but to be honest, having been blown away by what we had just seen, the workshops did prove a bit Derp!
What future this building holds is in doubt, but the amount of work that has been undertaken to restore the spinning and weaving machines, really should be recognised, and perhaps some form of museum would be fitting.
