Tweed Mill

Irish Weaver Toby Fitzpatrick came to Dartington Hall in 1927 and advocated machine weaving to the Elmhirsts.

The purpose-built tweed mill was designed by Oswald P. Milne in 1930.

The site of the mill was chosen expressly for the purpose of harnessing the Bidwell Brook to drive the water-wheel, the main source of power.  Once installed, the wheel was not used to generate electricity (potential 15hp) but for direct drive to a number of machines. Frequent adjustments were required to keep an even rate of drive according to the number of machines in operation and the flow of water available.  Although the wheel was kept in operation until the end of the War is was operated progressively less as mechanisation increased.

For further information about the textile mill and the tweed industry at Dartington, contact The Dartington Hall Trust Archive.

Lower Tweed Mill is currently Grade II listed (click here to find out more about what listing means). Situated on the A384 on the right hand side before the roundabout at Shinners Bridge is reached.

The Tweed Mill has recently been refurbished, bringing it back into use for the first time in a decade — click here to read all about it.

The water-wheel at the Tweed Mill has been refurbished and is now generating electricity — click here to read all about it.

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