Maythorne, Southwell, Notts.

Image: © David Hallam-Jones Taken: 24 May 2013

The former Maythorne Mill, its former workers’ cottages and its ancillary buildings, plus a farm, form the greater part of this small hamlet. It was a cotton mill built in 1785 to supply the framework knitting industry with yarns. The speculator that built Maythorne was a Southwell hop merchant. In the early C19th the mill was adapted to produce silk and lace thread by Messrs. Bean and Johnson and in 1838 the mill employed 70 workers, some of whom travelled in from Southwell. There was also a Mission Hall, a pub and general store. The workforce was mainly female who were required to wind silk on bobbins, form it into shanks before it was finally washed and pressed and despatched to Nottingham. However, yarn and thread products were not the only items produced here as osier beds provided willow for basket-making and hops were also grown locally. From 1939-45 the mill was used to billet soldiers and in 1948 Mr H.J. Butler bought it and put the land and buildings to agricultural use. A Mr Butler still farms at the only farm in the hamlet. The buildings has been converted into residential flats, plus some workshops. The mill wheel was powered by the River Greet and the mill pond and river can still be seen at the closed end of this cul-de-sac, behind the photographer.

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