Mills

During medieval times the Langcliffe stretch of the River Ribble was used by two mills to power the grinding of corn. Later these mills, and others, were turned into textile mills. Today, on a warm day of sunshine we found three of them.

Langcliffe High Mill was built in 1783 and and became one of Yorkshire’s largest and earliest cotton spinning mills. In the early 1800s the mill was enlarged to accommodate a steam engine to supplement its water power. It continued until the 1950s when it became a paper mill and is still to this day producing packaging and is still using water from the river as part of the process. 

Watershed Mill, a little  further downstream, was built in 1785 by friends of Richard Arkwright to house his new spinning machines. By the 1820s it had been converted into a weaving mill, housing 300 looms. It now stands, with its huge chimney, just outside Settle and is a retail outlet and café. 

My blip is Bridge End Mill. It would seem from records that it was a fulling mill in the 16th century. It was rebuilt a couple of times in the 18th century and by 1818 had become a large cotton mill. In 1861 it was fitted out as a joiner’s workshop using water-powered machinery. The building is now a block of flats but apparently the water wheel is still there and can be turned by water. I took the photo from Settle bridge and it shows the Ribble, the weir that was used to turn the water wheel, Watershed Mill . . . and the lovely blue sky. 

We also went to see the Hoffman Kiln - a ‘wonder’ of the Settle area. 

We then went into Settle for fish and chips, a little shopping in Booths and of course called at the wonderful Courtyard Dairy cheese shop on our way home.