Mount Mills

Situation
A mile downstream from Bridge Street Mill in Witney, it was built on a 14-acre site known as Mount Farm. It was located next to the railway goods station so was conveniently placed for receiving in raw materials and sending out finished goods.

Physical structure
Built by James Marriott in 1897-1900 to designs by J. Kirk and Sons of Dewsbury. It was designed as a fully integrated modern factory which combined and catered for all stages of blanket production on one site. This was in contrast to many of the earlier mills in Witney which had developed from fulling or water-powered spinning establishments and where the weaving and finishing processes tended to be fitted around these original activities.

Drawing of the weaving sheds at Mount Mills.

Mount Mills was made chiefly of brick and steel; the main weaving shops were single-storied and contained about 100 power looms. The complex also included an engine house, milling room, warehousing and a stone-built office [1]. Separate departments also existed for carding, spinning and warping. The factory chimney was built by two builder brothers from Brize Norton who 'brought themselves and their tools and materials in a cart drawn by a white horse. Having arrived on site, the horse also operated a crane by walking in a circle near the chimney. No scaffolding was used outside the chimney during its building, but cross pieces were used inside, and the crane pulled all the bricks and mortar up the inside of the slowly rising chimney shaft' [2].

Mount Mills was affected by enemy action in the Second World War when the glazed roofs of the weaving sheds were damaged by bomb blast and warp threads were severed by falling glass; workers were sent home for the morning while repairs took place [3]. A fire in 1953 seriously damaged the northern part of the mill, which included the carding and spinning departments. It was completely rebuilt and operational within six months; in the new building there was no overhead line shafting as each item of machinery now had its own electric motor, and modern ventilation and fluorescent light fittings were installed. A decision to consolidate production at Witney Mill lead to Mount Mills being vacated in 1985, sold in 1989, and demolished shortly after [4].

Owners
James Marriott (1827 - 1904) had the factory built when he decided to form a new textile company towards the end of the Victorian period. It opened for business in 1901 although blanket production had started the year before. The Marriott's were a long established blanket making family, though by the 19th century they were also connected with farming, dyeing and coal selling [5].

On completion of the new mill, Marriott's had ownership and control of a 'new and spacious blanket mill in which was laid down the most complete and up to date plant' [6].

Marriott's merged with the Charles Early and Company in 1960 to form Charles Early and Marriott (Witney) Ltd.

What was the site used for?
All stages of blanket production were carried out here: the site was planned and laid out for power weaving and had separate departments for carding, spinning, warping and warehousing. Rows of tentering racks for drying, can also be clearly seen on the 1899 Ordnance Survey map of Mount Mills. The business at this early stage was concentrated on wholesale rather than retail.

It was here during the 1960s that Fiberweaving technology was introduced into Witney blanket making, revolutionising blanket production. The Fiberweaving machines made not just blankets but also floor coverings and industrial felts. Electric blankets were also made by this method at Mount Mills.

Clare Sumner