Coldharbour Mill, built in 1799 as the first Spinning Mill in the South West, preserves a collection of Victorian Spinning Frames for the Worsted process & Hattersley Looms, still in use to produce Knitting Yarns, Tartan Cloth and Stair Runners.

The 1821 Breast Shot Waterwheel has been restored to working condition and the 19th Century Steam Engines and Lancashire Boilers may be viewed in their original location.

 

The Mill Yard affords great views of this historic Georgian Mill ans its later additions, as well as containing various other buildings of interest; a Gas Retort House, Carpenters Workshop with a collection of period tools and an Air Raid Shelter - a very rare survivor from 1940.

The Georgian Mill built in 1799, houses two examples of Wool Processing.

One level shows an early 19th century method for producing Woollen Yarn that would have been used by the local Hand Weavers.

This method comprises of a set of Carding Engines and a Self-acting Spinning Mule developed from Crompton's original Mule.

The current Production level shows Worsted Spinning Machines which take Combed Tops through to a fine Worsted Yarn as carried out in the days of Fox Brother's commercial use of the Mill until 1981.

This level also houses the machinery needed to weave cloth. The Annex contains a Warp Frame and Warp Mill for winding a Warp Beam and Hattersley Powered Standard and Broad Looms. These are still in use for Weaving Stair Carpet and Coldharbour Mill's own Tartans: Green and Blue Devon, Blackdown Hills and Somerset.

The 1821 Waterwheel is turning again after a major restoration project. The Wheel is connected to the Mill's Line Shafting and is used to power the spinning machines still in use today.

The Boiler house contains Lancashire Boilers, made in Glasgow by Galloways in 1910; one of which is certified and used on our Steam Up weekends - See 'What's On' section.

The Mill also possesses a valuable Beam Engine from 1867. Sourced from a Mann Watney Brewery in London, this engine is very similar to the Beam Engine purchased by Fox Brothers in 1865 and is installed in the original Engine house. It can be seen in Steam on our steam Up weekends.

The main engine house contains the Pollit & Wigzell horizontal steam engine purchased by Fox Brothers in 1910 and also 'In Steam' on our Steam Up weekends - See 'What's On' section.

The Steam Collection also includes a steam Generator and steam Fire Pump.