Show your support for Mill Pond.

Sign our campaign to support our funding bid!

We are now seeking funds for the next stage of the Mill Pond project – and increasing the area that is free for the community to enjoy and further increase the biodiversity of the area.

We are committed to the restoration of the mill pond area, creating a unique historical resource and bio-diversity project that is free at the point of use for locals, visitors, community groups, schools and other educational establishments whilst at the same time engendering community involvement in its development and sustainability.

Phase 1 has now been completed, thanks to the hard work of volunteers, staff, wildlife experts and our generous funders and the Mill Pond is now home to over 400 native trees and increased biodiversity. For the Mill, the increased water flow has led to our sluices being cleared and we are close to running the Mill using the original water supply.

We are keen to continue with this project and restore it to its former glory. We are currently seeking funding from local company Viridor Credits to continue this project and are seeking your support. Show your support for our application for grant application to Viridor Credits and sign below.

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Sensory Garden

Running along the leat by the car park, is our new sensory garden. Created with help from Tesco’s ‘bags of help’ and paving specialists MatsGrids it is the perfect place to spend some time enjoying the Mill’s grounds and stimulating the senses.

The aim of the garden is to create a stimulating and sensory space that could be enjoyed by all visitors to the Mill. Designed by one of the Mill’s volunteers, the plans accommodate grass and stone paving suitable for wheelchair users together with a wide range of planting that are specifically accessible for visitors with visual or physical impairments, dementia and wheelchair users.

The design incorporates a raised oval central bed as well as surrounding areas packed with plants for sound, sight, feel and smell. All of which are accessible by wheelchair users and pushchairs. Central to the design is an oval bed which takes visitors on a circular route around the garden for ease of access and exit.

With the plan in place our volunteers created the sensory garden, initially clearing and levelling the ground, before building the raised beds and installing the pathways. After research the team chose MatsGrids x-grid® which was not only easy to install but allows all year access even when filled with plants or gravel. With this in place, wooden features made from Mill trees and the planting was completed which is now maturing for all year interest.

The sensory garden can now be enjoyed without entrance to the Mill.

Matsgrids suppliers of ground reinforcement grids and grass protection meshes for use in all industrial development projects.

Childrens Fun and Steam Day

Join us for a day of family fun. Celebrate our new outdoor play & picnic area, Victorian Dressing Up Area and entertain the children with demonstrations, crafts and activities. The Sheep Trail will be out helping to explore the Mill (and there will be prizes for every complete trail). The Steam Team will also be on hand fueling the boilers and breathing life into the Mill engines. See if you can spot the smoke from the chimney across the valley and village! Open from 10.30 – 4pm.


Ambitious New Volunteering Programe Launched

We have today launched an ambitious new volunteering programe to celebrate National Volunteering week (1st to 7th June).

 

Our plan is to create 33,000 hours of volunteering opportunities, where volunteers can come and learn within the Mill environment – ensuring skills developed during the industrial revolution are shared with and for future generations. With its steam engines, water wheel and industrial heritage its not hard to see how this can be achieved,  volunteers can learn how to spin wool, weave and run the engines which will guarantee that this knowledge is passed on to the next generation. Did you know when working the residual heat from the boilers meant that Coldharbour Mill also heated glass houses containing tomatoes and soft fruit and this important piece of social history forms the unique character of Coldharbour Mill.

The Mill of today offers so much more – with opportunities being created for administration, retailing, marketing, event organisation, curating, tour guides and project management as the charity preserves the Mill. Skills which can be used in the wider community.

Martin Halse our CEO of Coldharbour Mill is spearheading this project and is keen to explain “with its diverse heritage, these new opportunities being created are set to promote life-long learning for all our volunteers and the chance for them to share this knowledge with the next generation to preserve traditional skills and keep the industrial revolution alive for future generations”

Ben Fox our Volunteer co-ordinator expands saying “we are a friendly team – and volunteering is a great way to learn and share skills as well as the chance to meet new friends. You don’t have to commit every week, and even if you are only able to offer a few hours we would love to hear from you.”

If you would like more information on how to become a volunteer or join us at one of our volunteer drop in sessions or contact Ben Fox – volunteering@coldharbourmill.org.uk or call 01884 840 960


Become a Member

We are delighted to announce our new membership scheme and is the perfect way of showing your support in preserving the Mill for future generations.

Prices for an adult membership start at just £28 and gives unlimited standard entry to the Mill and other benefits.

Show your support and join the Mill!

More Information


Award Winning Jess Volunteers at Mill

Jess is  22 and has been a volunteer at Coldharbour Mill since August 2017 working on the factory floor and spinning yarn on the amazing old spinning machines.  She studied Textile Design, specialising in woven textiles,  at Manchester School of Art, so the chance to continue working alongside what she loves and enjoy , and spends one day a week back home in Devon,was appealing.

In late September last year she entered one of her handwoven designs into the inaugural Knockaddo Woollen Mill textile competition for the New Woven Textile Designer award. Jess says
“I was fortunate to be selected among
 4 other finalists to attend an awards night at ‘Scotland Re-designed’, a very glamorous fashion event in Glasgow where the winner would be announced. I was lucky enough to win the prize, winning £500 and amazingly the production of my design at the mill In Scotland, which will feature my name as the designer on the label. It was such a great experience! “

She now hand-weaves in her studio in Bickleigh producing interior and fashion accessories and spends Thursdays volunteering with us at the Mill producing beautiful yarn.


Dress Making Workshop – 28th July, August 01, August 10

For this workshop you will be taught how to use a sewing machine independently and make a garment using vintage fabric.
During this workshop you will learn how to make a garment following given pattern instruction.
You will be provided with a box, which will contain everything you need to make your chosen garment, and a sewing machine per person throughout the workshop.
 
Workshops run from 10am – 4pm at Coldharbour Mill, Uffculme
Saturday 28th July
Wednesday 1st August
Friday 10th August
 
Each workshop costs £120 and includes lunch & refreshments.
 
For further information or to book, 
please contact: info@coldharbourmill.org.uk 
or call 01884 840960

OPEN 6 DAYS A WEEK!

From Good Friday we will now be open 6 days a week from Tuesday to Sunday. The Mill will be working showing the how the industrial revolution simply transformed the woollen trade in Uffculme and how our Mill changed from a cottage industry to a company with international reputation – supporting the war effort and producing fabric for the rich and famous.
Open from 10.30 – 4.00 it is the perfect family day out.


Braziers Cafe to open on Good Friday!

Opening on Good Friday is the Braziers Café, where visitors can enjoy excellent coffee light lunches, cakes and cream teas.  Following the success of their pop up café at the winter steam days the Wellington based coffee roasters are now in residence full time at the Mill and open to the public throughout the week. With no admission to the Mill required it makes a perfect destination for a walk, cycle or tour – and with free Wi-Fi it also makes the perfect place for an informal business meeting.


Mill in Steam – Easter Monday

The Mill will also be in Steam on Easter Monday. Recognised as one of the best preserved textile mills in the country visitors can see the large Lancashire Boilers generating the steam to power the mill engines and restored beam engine held within the original engine house. Largely untouched since the Industrial Revolution and in production daily ever since, the Mill is the perfect way to bring history to life and see how the Victorians inspired todays industry and technology. It also tells the story of taking wool from sheep to needles with our yarn prepared and spun on heritage machinery. As well as steam, the Mill has its waterwheel dating from 1797 completing the history of power.

The steam team has also been busy over the winter restoring the carpenters shop and the Tangee engine now breathes life into this important part of the mill – and work is underway to restore the machinery and make once again the woodwork required to keep the Mill running.

Our Mill shop has also been stocked over the winter with our beautiful yarns, rugs and textiles as well as items relating to the wool trade.

Easter Steam Day – 10.30am – 4.00pm


Mothers’ Day Steam

Celebrate Mother’s Day with a unique day out with the whole family. We will be open from 10.30am – 4.00pm and in steam.

 

Why not start the day with morning coffee at our new Braziers Café? Run by Wellington-based coffee roasters Braziers the new café boasts some of the finest coffee in the South West guaranteeing you a great start to the day. And with no admission to the Mill required, you can enjoy sitting by the leat even if you are not entering the Mill.

Inside the Mill you will transported back in time to the Victorian age and the heart of the Industrial Revolution with our iconic Lancashire boiler in steam powering a number of period steam engines including our Kittoe and Brotherhood beam engine and rate Pollit & Wigzell 300hp Mill engine.

Coldharbour Mill is one of the oldest working woollen museums in the country – and recognised by Historic England as “one of the best preserved textile Mills in the country”. Today we produce daily 100% yarns and textiles using only heritage machinery and traditional techniques handed down by generations of craftspeople working at the Mill. A stroll round our factory demonstrates the process of taking fleece to yarn – and offers a unique hands-on experience for every visitor.

For lunch, why not treat your mother to lunch in the café followed by a stroll in the newly restored water meadows before returning to the Mill for a traditional cream tea.

Also available for younger visitors will be our children’s trail and popular model railway layout of the Culm Valley Line. We also have a model layout of Sodor where Thomas can be driven.

Our Mill shop will also be open selling our yarns and textiles together with other mementos to remember your day.


Steam Day – This Sunday

Join us at Coldharbour Mill on Sunday 11th February when we will be bringing the Mill into Steam to make one of the finest sights in Devon.

Open from 10.30 – 4.00pm the Mill’s factory engines and beam engine will be running together with heritage spinning and weaving machinery giving visitors the opportunity to experience life and manufacturing during the Industrial Revolution. Our team will be on hand to answer questions and provide tours of the Mill which is recognised as one of the oldest and best preserved examples of Victorian industry still in daily use.

Also joining us on the steam day will be local coffee roasters Braziers who will be serving their fine coffee and refreshments ahead of joining the Mill full time in March when they open their latest café next to the leat.

Coldharbour Mill is perfect for all ages with children’s trails and our popular model railway layout of the Culm Valley Line available all day.


Learning and Community Engagement Officer

We are seeking to appoint an experienced learning practitioner with a passion for designing and delivering innovative learning programmes. In this exciting time of development and expansion, the we wish to consolidate and build on our successful education provision through consultation, creative resource and programme development as well as effective evaluation.

This is an exciting opportunity to create, develop and lead a newly-formed learning programme at Coldharbour Mill. There couldn’t be a better time to become involved as the mill progresses into a new phase of life and education is one of the main areas being developed.

The Learning and Community Engagement Officer will be responsible for the development and delivery of creative learning programmes for all ages. This is a new role devised to facilitate the delivery of the Mill’s new 5-Year Education Strategy. You will lead the development and delivery of consistent, inspirational, high-quality content for families and adult visitors, as well as schools, universities, communities and interest groups.

Full information can be found on our vacancies page – www.coldharbourmill.org.uk/current-vacancies/


New Years Day Steam Day

Don’t forget the mill will be open between 10.30 and 4.00 and in full steam on New Years Day –
The full team will be on hand spinning, weaving and running the mill engines – while the Cafe will be serving mulled wine and warming snacks, teas and coffees to keep the cold away and welcome in the new year.


We’re Looking Forward to the Fayre on Sunday

Come and Join us this Sunday at our Steam Day and Christmas Fayre. You’ll find a wide range of inspirational gifts and treats from a number of local providers. The mill will also be in full steam producing our yarn and cloth ready for your Christmas Knits and crafts. Also we will be continuing the 150th Celebrations of our Kittoe & Brotherhood Beam Engine with Matt Down of Peter Brotherhood ltd who will be on hand to answer all your questions about the beam engine and how it has influenced today’s engineering solutions. Hope to see you there!