Tone Works, Wellington, Somerset: Survey and Analysis of Buildings, Power Systems and Machinery
Author(s): Mike Williams, Lucy Jessop
Tone Works was until 2000 the cloth-finishing works of Fox Brothers and Co. Ltd., one of the oldest and largest woollen and worsted manufacturers in the South-West of England. The firm was established in the late 18th century and based at nearby Tonedale Mills (NBR 90889). It also owned several other mills around the south west and managed mills in other regions. Tone Works originated as a corn mill that was acquired by Thomas Fox in 1796. It was developed throughout the 19th and early 20th century into the largest cloth-finishing works in the South West. Specialised buildings were added in several phases for cloth finishing, dyeing and tentering, together with complex water-, steam- and electric-power systems. Extensive ponds and watercourses were built to supply the water-power system and to provide large quantities of treated water suitable for use in finishing processes. Fox Brothers increasingly specialised in the manufacture of high quality traditional cloths, which led to the preservation of much of the plant and machinery. By the late 1990s, when the site was listed Grade 2*, Tone Works was exceptionally well-preserved, retaining a complete set of historic machinery and substantial parts of the three power systems.
- Report Number:
- 72/2007
- Series:
- Research Department Reports
- Pages:
- 134
- Keywords:
- Building Recording Standing Building Water Management Building Investigation
