Introduction
This is one of those large-scale ‘classic’ UK sites that I have always wanted to tick off the list and have always had in the back of my head, a bit like how Fletcher’s and RAE Bedford were for me. The main draw for me was the engine room with the large engines in situ, but was still excited to see the whole thing, and it didn’t disappoint.
I wanted to do the Dye Works down the road too, but it was getting late, I was knackered, @Wastelandr was hungover and it was pissing down with rain. One for another time hopefully.
Information & History
The Tonedale Mill sites were owned by the Fox Brothers and were the largest textile mill in the South West. It has been in the ownership of the Fox Family for over 200 years and was most famous for the production of Taunton serge, khaki cloth, and puttees, which were used by the British army. At its peak, 6,500 metres of material was manufactured at the site daily. Much of the factory closed in the 1980s until operations were scaled back due to competitive manufacturing prices overseas.
Back in 2008, there were plans to develop the site into housing but these were abandoned in 2008 following the global financial crisis. The buildings were listed on the Heritage at Risk Register two years later and the Tone Works site was touted as one of the most 'at risk’ heritage sites a few years later. Much of the original buildings are Grade II* listed. Many want the buildings to be restored but this is not thought to be commercially viable due to the state of disrepair of the structures.
The Explore
The visit was very relaxed, I was joined by @Wastelandr for the entire duration, and @Webbs0710 for a short period of time who wanted to take a quick look around before his Wales trip later that day, so he didn’t stay long - good to meet you mate and thanks for showing us the way to the boiler house and engine room.
Myself and Wastelandr spent a few hours on the site and did all the main bits, we tried to sus out how to do the other bits with the scaffolding but didn’t find an obvious way, but to be fair we weren’t looking that hard.
Photos
Starting off with some general externals of the site
In the original mill building, there are signs of some work that has taken place in recent years for restoration purposes, there’s a bit of scaffolding on the exterior, and window frames have been removed and are stored on the ground level.
Moving onto the upper levels:
On this level, there are still some remains of machinery, but the floor is in terrible condition now so I didn't dare get any close-up shots, as much as I wanted to.
Moving on to other sections of the site
Next was this lovely warehouse space filled with vegetation, it made for some nice colourful shots
A couple of miscellaneous shots before covering the boiler house and engine room:
CONTINUED…
This is one of those large-scale ‘classic’ UK sites that I have always wanted to tick off the list and have always had in the back of my head, a bit like how Fletcher’s and RAE Bedford were for me. The main draw for me was the engine room with the large engines in situ, but was still excited to see the whole thing, and it didn’t disappoint.
I wanted to do the Dye Works down the road too, but it was getting late, I was knackered, @Wastelandr was hungover and it was pissing down with rain. One for another time hopefully.
Information & History
The Tonedale Mill sites were owned by the Fox Brothers and were the largest textile mill in the South West. It has been in the ownership of the Fox Family for over 200 years and was most famous for the production of Taunton serge, khaki cloth, and puttees, which were used by the British army. At its peak, 6,500 metres of material was manufactured at the site daily. Much of the factory closed in the 1980s until operations were scaled back due to competitive manufacturing prices overseas.
Back in 2008, there were plans to develop the site into housing but these were abandoned in 2008 following the global financial crisis. The buildings were listed on the Heritage at Risk Register two years later and the Tone Works site was touted as one of the most 'at risk’ heritage sites a few years later. Much of the original buildings are Grade II* listed. Many want the buildings to be restored but this is not thought to be commercially viable due to the state of disrepair of the structures.
The Explore
The visit was very relaxed, I was joined by @Wastelandr for the entire duration, and @Webbs0710 for a short period of time who wanted to take a quick look around before his Wales trip later that day, so he didn’t stay long - good to meet you mate and thanks for showing us the way to the boiler house and engine room.
Myself and Wastelandr spent a few hours on the site and did all the main bits, we tried to sus out how to do the other bits with the scaffolding but didn’t find an obvious way, but to be fair we weren’t looking that hard.
Photos
Starting off with some general externals of the site
In the original mill building, there are signs of some work that has taken place in recent years for restoration purposes, there’s a bit of scaffolding on the exterior, and window frames have been removed and are stored on the ground level.
Moving onto the upper levels:
On this level, there are still some remains of machinery, but the floor is in terrible condition now so I didn't dare get any close-up shots, as much as I wanted to.
Moving on to other sections of the site
Next was this lovely warehouse space filled with vegetation, it made for some nice colourful shots
A couple of miscellaneous shots before covering the boiler house and engine room:
CONTINUED…
