Hebblethwaite
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| Hebblethwaite
Mill
Historical Environment Record No: MYD36577 OS Grid Reference: SD693932 Located in the woods below Hebblethwaite Hall in Cautley, near Sedbergh, Cumbria, Hebblethwaite Mill was built in the 1790s by an ex-naval officer called Robert Foster. He inherited Hebblethwaite Hall and estate in 1785 and, being a Quaker, built the mill for the better employment of the poor. The new mill housed some of the first carding machines in the area, powered by a water wheel. The carded wool was sent out to local families to be spun, before being woven or knitted by hand. Spinning frames soon followed the carding machines and then machines to wash and full the finished cloth were installed. Hand knitting continued as a home-based industry in the area well into the 19th century. Foster retired in 1812 and sold the mill and his estates. Above information and image from the Out of
Oblivion website:
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For many years, Joseph Dover, originally
a merchant from Keswick, ran the mill. This was one of five mills around
Sedbergh during the 19th century. His ambition in life was to own his own
mill. In 1836 he bought 9 acres of land for £490 on a bend of the
River Clough and the town’s labourers suddenly found there was work aplenty,
carting stone from a local quarry, building a dam and constructing a huge
wooden waterwheel. Thus arose the first mill at Farfield, built in 1837,
the year Queen Victoria came to the throne. Fairfield Mill is now
an arts and heritage centre: http://www.farfieldmill.org/
In later years, Hebblethwaite Mill was used for bobbin making. The proprietor, Richard Haresnape, put in machinery and established connections with Yorkshire and Lancashire firms, who kept up a steady demand for his bobbins. The result was that in 1877 he was able to retire to Kendal and leave his sons to carry on the mill. Mr. Haresnape's recollections were reported in the Westmorland Gazette
23.12.1911 as A Nonagenarian`s Record. For a full report,
visit this link:
Little now survives of the Hebblethwaite Mill building as can be seen
in the photo opposite taken from a series entitled Our Special Wood
by Adam Horan
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