Monument record MWX218 - Asker Mills, East Road, Bridport

Askers Mill was a weaving shop and bleaching works built in 1835. From 1861 it was converted into a steam-powered flax and hemp mill containing power looms and a bleaching plant. It was later used for twine and net making until about 1920. Much of the mill building has been demolished but some of the mill buildings survive heavily altered within the East Road Business Park, clad with render and with the base of the chimney protruding through the tiled roof. The mill pond has been filled in.

Asker Mills was as flax and hemp mill built by sailcloth manufacturer J P Stephens in 1835. It was originally water powered with a large mill pond to the east. From 1861 power looms were introduced (1). A valuation of 1875 lists the machinery as including 20 canvas power looms together with equipment for bleaching, calendering and winding the yarn (2). Power was provided by one horizontal high-pressure steam engine which drove machinery via belting and shafting (2).

The Mill is shown on the 1841 Walditch Tithe Map, where it is described as a 'Bleachinghouse, Weaving Shop & Meadow' owned and occupied by John & Isaac Stephens (3). It is shown on the 1887 Ordnance Survey 25-inch map, where it is labelled 'Asker Mills (Flax & Hemp)', with a long kidney-shaped mill pond to the east (4). The 1902 Ordnance Survey 25-inch map describes the mill as 'Asker Mills (Flax, Hemp, & Fishing Nets)' (5). The mill is not named on the 1929 Ordnance Survey map and a number of the outbuildings appear to have been demolished, perhaps suggesting it had gone out of use by this date (6).

It appears in an 1867 Trade Directory as the premises of Stephens & Co, canvas and sail canvas manufacturers (2). Stephens & Co. left Askers Mill in 1875 and it was taken over by Walter Powell (1).The 1889 Trade Directories list it as occupied by Powell & Sons, twine makers (7). They are still there in 1900 when they are described as Powell & Sons, Fishing lines & net twine makers (8) and the last entry is in the 1903 Directory (2). From 1905-1911 the Gourock Ropeworks Ltd had hand operated machinery here (1). In 1915 it was occupied by ‘R. Budden & Son, rope, twine & fishing net manufacturers, also of shrimping and prawning nets, pier fishing lines, &c. of West Street and Asker Mills.’ (9) and they appear to have moved out in 1920 when they took over the former West Street Ironworks (2). The mill presumably ceased to be used for textiles at this date and was later used as a milk factory (2).

Many of the mill buildings were demolished in the late 1970s but some survive heavily altered within East Road Business Park, clad with render and with the base of the chimney protruding through the tiled roof. The mill pond has been filled in.

<1> Sims, R, 1998, The Mills of Bridport (Monograph). SDO10535.

<2> Bone, M R, 1985, 'The Bridport Flax and Hemp Industry' Bristol Industrial Archaeological Society Journal, 19-31 (Article in serial). SWX1452.

<3> 1841, Walditch Tithe Map, plot no. 48 (Map). SDO10531.

<4> Ordnance Survey, Various, Ordnance Survey Map, Dorset Sheets, 1890 OS map, Dorset Sheet 38.10 (Map). SWX1299.

<5> Ordnance Survey, Various, Ordnance Survey Map, Dorset Sheets, 1902 OS map, Dorset Sheet, 38.10 (Map). SWX1299.

<6> Ordnance Survey, Various, Ordnance Survey Map, Dorset Sheets, 1929 OS map, Dorset Sheet 38.10 (Map). SWX1299.

<7> Kelly's Directories Ltd, 1889, Kelly's Directory of Dorsetshire, 1186 (Serial). SDO10505.

<8> Martin, C, 2003, The Bridport Trade. Rope & Net : Hemp & Flax (Monograph). SDO10501.

<9> 1915, Kelly's Directory of Dorsetshire, p48 (Monograph). SDO10485.

<10> Royal Commission on Historic Monuments, Externally held archive: RCH01/063 South West Textile Mills Project (Unpublished document). SDO17323.

<11> National Record of the Historic Environment, 1305665 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Dec 19 2022 4:44PM