Beam from a Beam Engine, Springfield Mill, Sandling Road, Maidstone, Kent

Photograph taken 13 March 2001 © Dr Henry Teed ARPS. Source Historic England Archive ref: 173472

This beam is from the original Bolton and Watt Beam Engine. It is is believed to be one of the first 6 engines made in this country. It was installed in 1805 by Sir James Watt and John Rennie and operated for about 80 years. Springfield Mill was the first paper mill to operate solely on steam.

Location

Kent Maidstone

Period

Georgian (1714 - 1836)

Themes

The machines to the right of this picture are carding machines. These used spiked drums in which the cotton was rotated. This process aligned the fibres, which were then placed in buckets as lengths or 'slivers'. The slivers were combined on a doubling frame, which is the machine that most of these women are working on.

Beam from a Beam Engine, Springfield Mill, Sandling Road, Maidstone, Kent

Location

Period

Themes

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