One final piece of the Tonedale Mill remained to be seen - the live "secret factory" that we glimpsed a few weekends ago when we visited the shop.
Obviously this was an official visit that I arranged as part of a work project. The factory isn't open for casual visits. I thought I'd share the photos since a number of people have visited Wellington recently.
A new industrial unit contains the looms that used to occupy the gigantic weaving shed at Tonedale Mill - and Fox Brothers actually seem to be doing very well, selling exclusively to high end markets. They've recently invested in a couple of brand new looms, and are keen to move back to occupy part of the old site. Their future plans include reopening the wet works at Tone Mill, since all their cloth goes to Yorkshire for finishing which is inconvenient and costly. Fox Brothers market themselves as heritage manufacturers in Wellington, and the old site is very much part of their image, and therefore worth restoring. Their big challenge is finding young people willing to take on apprenticeships.
Unfinished cloth
Finished cloth
Obviously this was an official visit that I arranged as part of a work project. The factory isn't open for casual visits. I thought I'd share the photos since a number of people have visited Wellington recently.
A new industrial unit contains the looms that used to occupy the gigantic weaving shed at Tonedale Mill - and Fox Brothers actually seem to be doing very well, selling exclusively to high end markets. They've recently invested in a couple of brand new looms, and are keen to move back to occupy part of the old site. Their future plans include reopening the wet works at Tone Mill, since all their cloth goes to Yorkshire for finishing which is inconvenient and costly. Fox Brothers market themselves as heritage manufacturers in Wellington, and the old site is very much part of their image, and therefore worth restoring. Their big challenge is finding young people willing to take on apprenticeships.
Unfinished cloth
Finished cloth
