Whitchurch Silk Mill

Whitchurch Silk Mill Weaving in Hampshire, England since 1830 Whitchurch Silk Mill is the oldest silk mill in the UK still in its original building.

A gem of industrial heritage in beautiful, rural Hampshire, Whitchurch Silk Mill is a Georgian water mill that weaves silk using 19th century machinery.

Tomorrow is the start of Whitchurch Silk Mill's first-ever Flower Festival! 💐🌺☀️Discover an exciting collaboration betwe...
18/06/2026

Tomorrow is the start of Whitchurch Silk Mill's first-ever Flower Festival! 💐🌺☀️

Discover an exciting collaboration between nature and heritage crafts at our brand-new event. Explore the floors of Whitchurch Silk Mill, revealing floral displays, artwork and installations from across the community. Immerse yourself in craft activities, such as watercolour painting by Art-K, and connect with stallholders, learning more about nature, the environment and handmade crafts. 🪡

This festival takes place over 3 days: Friday 19th June, Saturday 20th June and Sunday 21st June 2026, between 10.30am and 5pm. Your ticket is valid for one day's entry and helps preserve the future of endangered silk weaving here at Whitchurch Silk Mill.

To find out more, visit whitchurchsilkmill.org.uk/event/flower-festival. Don't delay - this event starts tomorrow!

We hope to see you there! 🧵

16/06/2026

Weaving is more than just a craft here at Whitchurch Silk Mill - it's the beating heart of our Mill. From heritage silk scarves to ribbons and throws, each project is special, ensuring a sustainable future for this endangered craft. 💚

Recently, we've been working on a new project - 'Freda', a lively design inspired by our silk archive. This scarf is named after Freda Baker, a Stephen Walters employee who worked in accounts from 1962, liaising with Whitchurch Silk Mill on a regular basis and making deliveries to the Mill. During an interview in 2004, Freda reflected on Whitchurch Silk Mill's distinctive character as a place of colour and craftsmanship.

This vivid silk scarf has been capturing the hearts of those who love its vibrant design - has it captured yours? 🧵

If you're coming along to our Flower Festival on Friday or Saturday, make sure you don't miss this! 🪴Soil Smiths is offe...
15/06/2026

If you're coming along to our Flower Festival on Friday or Saturday, make sure you don't miss this! 🪴

Soil Smiths is offering a free compost and soil health check-up, ready to help gardeners make the best of their garden. All you need to do is bring a jam jar or small container of soil along with you to learn more about your soil!

This could be an amazing opportunity to take your garden to the next level, as part of our exciting event! If you haven't got your ticket yet, be quick - our Flower Festival takes place this Friday 19th June-Sunday 21st June, 10.30am-4.30pm.

Buy your tickets here: whitchurchsilkmill.org.uk/event/flower-festival 🧵

Whitchurch Silk Mill and its surrounding areas are full of unique tales. 📖Found in the Hampshire Chronicle, from Saturda...
14/06/2026

Whitchurch Silk Mill and its surrounding areas are full of unique tales. 📖

Found in the Hampshire Chronicle, from Saturday 21st October 1916, the story of Jane Wort tells a dedicated life lived between our mill and Overton:

'On Saturday last Mrs Jane Wort, one of the oldest and most respected inhabitants of this village, passed away at the ripe age of 86. Born in 1830, she started work in the old silk mill [Overton] at the age of 6, working hard all day perched on a little stool to enable her to reach her task.
On the mill being closed, for 20 years she daily walked to and fro to Whitchurch to the silk mill there, and then was married to Mr. Wort. Losing her husband shortly after, she applied for a vacancy in Overton Post Office, and for nearly 30 years had a daily tramp of over 20 miles with her letters, in all she trudged 200,000 miles before retiring in 1906.'

Iconic stories such as these show the quiet impact of local people. Even today, visitors can walk in Jane's footsteps, following the fascinating Mill Trail that explores more than 5 mills. This trail is available to view at whitchurchsilkmill.org.uk/plan-your-visit, at the bottom of the page.

Why not make a day of your trip to Whitchurch Silk Mill? Visit our historic Mill, explore the Mill Trail and finish your journey in our fabulous Riverside Café! We can't imagine a more perfect way to spend a sunny Summer day in rural Hampshire. 🧵

Weaving is for everyone - join Judith Needham here at Whitchurch Silk Mill to weave willow into your own lifelike chicke...
13/06/2026

Weaving is for everyone - join Judith Needham here at Whitchurch Silk Mill to weave willow into your own lifelike chicken sculpture!

This easy-going session is perfect for learning the basics of willow weaving, borrowing techniques from traditional basket making. If you've worked with willow before, this could be your chance to weave outside the box, creating a lifelike, eye-catching creature. 🐔

Never worked with willow before? No problem! This beginner-friendly workshop is open to all levels of ability!

This session will be held on Tuesday 23rd June, 10am-4pm. To book your ticket, visit whitchurchsilkmill.org.uk/event/chicken-sculpture-willow-weaving-workshop! 🧵

12/06/2026

One of the most satisfying parts of weaving our silk ribbons is cutting the broadcloth! 🎀

Here at Whitchurch Silk Mill, our ribbons are woven as a broadcloth on Loom 9. This means that once woven, each of the 14 ribbons must be cut in order to separate them into their individual designs. Each ribbon is separated by a 'leno selvedge' which prevents fraying - you can find out more about this in our video from April 28th!

Explore the brand-new Regency collection for sale at: shop.whitchurchsilkmill.org.uk/collections/2026-regency-ribbons!🧵

Don't forget - it's one week until our Flower Festival begins! 🌷🌱🌻Have you got your ticket yet? This 3-day event promise...
12/06/2026

Don't forget - it's one week until our Flower Festival begins! 🌷🌱🌻

Have you got your ticket yet? This 3-day event promises to be full of floral festivities, from displays, arrangements and installations, to activities, stalls and refreshments. Come and explore the unique combination of floristry and heritage crafts, set against the backdrop of our 18th Century watermill.

To support the future of living weaving heritage, and enjoy a beautiful day out, book your tickets here: whitchurchsilkmill.org.uk/event/flower-festival 🧵

11/06/2026

At Whitchurch Silk Mill, we've been practising heritage crafts for over 200 years. 🕰️

Here, we focus on taking our silk to the next stage, from warping to weaving. We do this by beaming off the warp! Watch as our Weaver Tackler unwinds the warp from the drum, carefully transferring it onto a warp beam. After this, they then tie off sections of the warp, securing its position on the beam. Then, it's ready to be taken down to our weaving shed!

We're proud of our work to preserve the future of heritage crafts. If you enjoy our videos, consider becoming a Patron of the Mill, where you receive exclusive quarterly videos and content in exchange for your support! To find out more, visit whitchurchsilkmill.org.uk/become-a-mill-patron. 🧵

Have you ever seen a warp like this? 🌟These threads are coming to life on our 19th Century warping mill! Using historic ...
09/06/2026

Have you ever seen a warp like this? 🌟

These threads are coming to life on our 19th Century warping mill! Using historic technical skills, our weavers transport miles of silk threads from our creel to the warping mill. As the warping mill turns, the threads are wrapped around the drum, creating the warp.

Keep following to find out more about how we take the warp off the drum - and operate more of our heritage machinery! 🧵

Young people aged 16+ are very welcome to attend independently, under 16 parents please stay on site.A lovely treat for ...
09/06/2026

Young people aged 16+ are very welcome to attend independently, under 16 parents please stay on site.

A lovely treat for young makers this Saturday!

Our crochet workshop is a rare chance for creatives to try something new in a relaxed setting at the Mill.

✨ Led by Heather, an experienced teacher, this session is perfect for beginners and those keen to build their skills.

Hands-on textile workshops like this are rarely available, making it a really special opportunity.

🎟️ Just a few spaces left – booking essential
📅 This Saturday

Address

Whitchurch Silk Mill, 28 Winchester Street
Whitchurch
RG287AL

Opening Hours

Tuesday 10:30am - 5pm
Wednesday 10:30am - 5pm
Thursday 10:30am - 5pm
Friday 10:30am - 5pm
Saturday 10:30am - 5pm
Sunday 10:30am - 5pm

Telephone

01256892065

Website

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