Carding Mill
In Medieval times (13th century) the mill was built in Carding Mill Valley and used for grinding corn.
In 1812 the mill from which the valley derives its name was built, a 'Carding Mill'. Carding is the process of straightening the tangled fibres (combing) of wool to prepare it for spinning. This would originally have been done by hand, using teasels, but the mill drove a machine called the carding engine. Local people, probably women, would then have taken the wool and spun it at home: this was known as the 'cottage industry'. Black sheep were particularly prized before dyes were widely used.
In Medieval times (13th century) the mill was built in Carding Mill Valley and used for grinding corn.
In 1812 the mill from which the valley derives its name was built, a 'Carding Mill'. Carding is the process of straightening the tangled fibres (combing) of wool to prepare it for spinning. This would originally have been done by hand, using teasels, but the mill drove a machine called the carding engine. Local people, probably women, would then have taken the wool and spun it at home: this was known as the 'cottage industry'. Black sheep were particularly prized before dyes were widely used.