Monument record MDO20198 - Textile and bleaching works, West Allington, Bridport

A textile and bleaching works to the south of West Allington, adjacent to the river, are shown on the Allington Tithe Map. The works were taken over by Rendall and Coombes in 1858. The buildings were demolished in the mid-1960s to make way for the Dreadnought Trading Estate.

The Allington Tithe Map and apportionment list a 'Yarn Barton & Booking-house' owned and occupied by Walter Eustice Gundry and John Pope, Executors of George Darby Deceased, & Samuel Vagg on the south side of West Allington. A series of buildings are shown at the southern end of the plot, adjacent to the river, undoubtedly the textile and bleaching works. George Darby is listed in the directories as a manufacturer of 'line, twine, shoethread, sailcloth, linen and woollen webs' (2). It is possible that some of the cloth and webs were processed here. The date the works were constructed is not known.

The site was taken over by Rendall and Coombes in 1858. The buildings are still shown on the 1890-1930 Ordnance Survey Maps (3) (4) (5) and it is probable that they continued in use throughout the second half of the 19th century and possibly into the 20th century. The buildings were demolished in the mid-1960s to make way for the Dreadnought Trading Estate.

<1> Martin, J, 1840, Map of the Parish of Allington in the County of Dorset, plot no. 17 (Map). SDO10508.

<2> Bone, M R, 1981, 'Bridport Textile Industry 1814-1945' Somerset and Dorset Notes and Queries, 148 (Article in serial). SDO10528.

<3> Ordnance Survey, 1890, Dorset Sheet XXXVIII.9 (Map). SDO10521.

<4> Ordnance Survey, 1902, Dorset Sheet XXXVIII.9 (Map). SDO10522.

<5> Ordnance Survey, 1930, Dorset Sheet XXXVIII.9 (Map). SDO10557.

Record last edited

May 21 2008 9:28AM