Snuff Works, Lowther Street, Kendal, Cumbria

Photograph taken 26 February 2006 © Mr Adrian Allchin. Source Historic England Archive ref: 75437

This factory has been producing snuff since 1782. Taking snuff was very fashionable in Georgian England. The building contains the oldest snuff machinery in Britain. The ancient trade sign on the street wall, of the Turk smoking a pipe, is probably the original. The company still exists in 2009 under the name Gawith Hoggarth and company. The company produces around 15 types of pipe tobacco and around 54 varieties of snuff.

Location

Cumbria Kendal

Period

Georgian (1714 - 1836)

Themes

This mill was originally known as Jumble Hole Mill. It was first mentioned in 1788. Between 1815 and 1826 it was owned by Christopher Rawden who owned several mills in the locality. On 11th August 1899 the mill was destroyed by fire. This photograph could have been taken after the fire. The mill was altered and extended during the 19th and 20th century. The 1947 Yorkshire textile Industry directory has an entry for Jumble Hole Mill:
'Cocker and Co (1929) Ltd. (bleaching, dyeing and finishing of blacks and colours; rayons; crepes; cashmeres; brocades; muslins)
Cockers closed in the 1950s, but the mill was later used for silk dyeing.

Snuff Works, Lowther Street, Kendal, Cumbria

Location

Period

Themes

Tags