A NEW information board at Addingham High Mill has been unveiled.
Two hundred years ago, Addingham was a hive of textile industry with hundreds of mill workers click-clacking to work in their clogs.
High Mill, originally a Medieval corn mill, was extended to include two spinning mills in the late 1700s which was ‘boom-time’ with new textile mills being rapidly built in Addingham and across the north of England.
Now Addingham Civic Society Heritage Group has just unveiled an Information Board at the mill, the first of its planned boards marking the development of industry in the village.
The new board, designed by Don Barrett, features a painting of the mill by J M W Turner, a photo of it at the end of its working life and a brief history.
It is positioned so that it will be passed by up to 5,000 Dales Way Path walkers each year and so inform both visitors and residents. It was unveiled on Wednesday, February 15 by Chris Cobley and Suzy Stewart in front of an audience of about 54 locals.
Chris Cobley, a mill resident involved in preparing the board, said: “It will really put High Mill on the map, together with its long and fascinating history.”
“We have been planning this initiative for some time,” said Don Barrett, President of Addingham Civic Society, “but covid and other problems delayed implementation. We are delighted to now have the first board in place and are very grateful to the residents of High Mill and Suzy Stewart of Hamiltons Restaurant next door to the Mill for jointly funding the project.”
Addingham Civic Society is one of the most active and successful in England, with a remarkable 10 per cent of the village’s population of 4000 in membership, and several excellent historical publications to its name.
The Society is an active member of the Yorkshire & Humberside Association of Civic Societies (YHACS), which is the regional body representing 38 member Societies.
For more information about Addingham Civic Society visit https://www.addinghamcivicsociety.org.uk
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here