Coldharbour Mill Working Wool Museum - Learning with a Difference!

COLDHARBOUR MILL Working Wool Museum 

Coldharbour Mill

Uffculme, Cullompton, Mid Devon EX15 3EE

Local history … and much more!

• Soak up the atmosphere of this historic Mill and witness original machinery at work.

• Discover how raw wool was processed into yarn and then woven into cloth for puttees (the khaki bandages the soldiers wrapped around their legs in WWI) and for the finest material for suits in Savile Row!

• Experience the story of the Fox Brothers company's unique role in the industrial revolution, and how they improved conditions for mill-workers in the 19th century.

• Imagine how the mighty waterwheel powered the Mill machinery before the introduction of steam, and how steam engines then increased the potential for increased production.

• Have fun and learn in an exceptional environment !

For over thirty years our Education Team have been providing high quality, relevant and fun learning experiences for young people from primary and secondary schools and students in further and higher education.

We provide a range of half and full day cross-curricular sessions to enrich learning and provide memorable experiences. All sessions are carefully planned to maximise effective learning outside the classroom.

The Working Wool Museum occupies a former industrial site – a spinning mill dating from the 18^th century. All the sights, sounds and smells of the working factory give the opportunity to experience history at first hand, and gain insights into how people lived and worked in the past through active participation.

Contact: for more information or to make a booking - phone: 01884 840960 Mon-Fri 10.30am-4.30pm, or email: info@coldharbourmill.org.uk

Visit our website: www.coldharbourmill.org.uk

Resources available

Activities include:

Victorian Drama - living history! Mr Robson, the factory foreman, and Annie, the mill-worker, put the children to work to decide whether they can have a job at the Mill. (full day, includes Mill tour)

The Industrial Revolution: a tour of the Mill buildings and site explores the effects of the Industrial Revolution on wool processing and manufacture, and the increase of power with the water wheel and the steam engine complex. (half or full day)

Materials & Fibres/Textile Technology: pupils experience hand-spinning and weaving, and learn about  the life of a family working in their own cottage in Medieval and Tudor times. (full day, includes Mill tour)

Machines of the Imagination: a music workshop with a difference! - a fun session of practical music-making, tailored to the abilities of the participants, imitating some of the Mill's industrial machines as part of the compositional process. (half or full day)

'Design Your Own' visit:  maths and science, art and design, design and technology, the environment, geography …. the Museum and its site provide many opportunities for activities in different curriculum areas, and we are happy to help you tailor-make your own visit.  (half or full day)

Prices start from £4 per pupil. Accompanying staff free.

We can provide teaching/learning materials to assist busy teachers to prepare for and follow up their visit - our Teachers' Pack contains background information, pictures, and activities to support local history, literacy and numeracy and other curricular areas.

Our strengths

Our volunteers and staff are very experienced, knowledgeable, friendly and enthusiastic.

We provide high quality and value for money education sessions.

Activities are pitched at the level appropriate to the age and ability of the individual group.

We are always open to suggestions from teachers, and are happy to tailor a visit to fit with specific topics.

We provide FREE preliminary visits for staff to explore the museum and discuss their requirements in advance.

We can accommodate up to 60 students at any one time and will split these into two groups for the activities

Curriculum links:

• History - Local History; the Industrial Revolution; the Victorians; development of textiles and techniques, Childhood

• Geography - national and international trade in woollen cloths

• English and Drama - listening and speaking, reading, creative writing

• Science and Design Technology - inventors & inventions, development of spinning and weaving technology

• Art and Design - use our site and collections for inspiration

• Environment - explore the site, with its millstreams and paddock, and investigate the wildlife

What other people say about us:

“I really enjoyed Coldharbour mill! I liked it when we stacked the bobbins and polished the boilers Mr Robson was really strict! And i liked the chimney too.” Imogen, Burrington Primary School

“Fabulous – best educational visit I have ever been on” North Petherton Primary School

Facilities available

School groups are given use of a room for the duration of their visit with space to store bags and coats securely and to have their picnic snacks at lunchtime.

All areas of the  museum and site are accessible to the mobility impaired. The museum has 2 wheelchairs available for use - please advise when booking if these will be required.

Other places to visit in the area

Tiverton Museum of Mid Devon Life

Grand Western Canal Country Park

Cullompton and the Culm Valley Cloth Trail

Learning Downloads

• Mill tour Quiz sheet

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