Helmshore Cotton Mill – Video Diary

A trip to Rossendale in Lancashire means many things to me.  It’s a place where I feel at ‘Home’. I catch up with my family and now and again I revisit aspects of the industrial heritage and it’s textiles stories that had sparked my love of textiles, many years ago.  I remember family tales from the Cotton Mills – of clogs sparking on cobbles, the Mee Mawing Language of Weavers and my great-aunt explaining how she used to thread a shuttle.  Helmshore Cotton Mill is one of the last remaining Mills in the Rossendale  Valley where you can truly experience the full glory of original machinery in working order.

Helmshore Cotton Mill is one of the last remaining Mills in the Rossendale Valley
Helmshore Cotton Mill is one of the last remaining Mills in the Rossendale Valley

This video is from a recent visit and shows some beautiful working Carding, Roving  & Spinning machines. It’s noisier than you might think!

A little bonus for you are the fabulous Fulling Machines showing how Military Wool Cloth was made.

If you have memories or family stories from the Mills, I’d love to hear them. Please share them below.
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I am dotty about my scarf!

Dotty and textiles are my perfect combination.

I slept like a baby the evening of the felt workshop. Although the felting process is a very physical one,  I had forgotten how tiring it is to think on your feet and make design decisions fast as part of the creative process. The felt scarf took a day to make and I absolutely love the result. Especially wearing it with my lovely vintage ‘linen’ brooch.

Dotty felt scarf
Handmade silk, wool & textiles scarf
with one of my hand-stitched brooches

Continue reading “I am dotty about my scarf!”