Witney Mill, Witney, Oxfordshire

Photograph taken 23 August 2005 © Mr Alistair F Nisbet. Source Historic England Archive ref: 398142

This mill dates to c1820. The mill was water powered. It combined the fulling, weaving and spinning processes under one roof. It is the earliest surviving industrial building of Richard Early and Sons Ltd. The Early family had blanket mills in Witney for much of the 19th and 20th centuries. Charles Early and Company produced blankets for the Navy at Witney Mill during WW2. Find out more about windmills and watermills in our Teachers' Kit - Mills.

Location

Oxfordshire Witney

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.

Witney Mill, Witney, Oxfordshire

Location

Period

Themes

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