Longfords Mill, Stroud

Closer view of footbridge. Note the cast iron column beyond the bridge, which appears to be a recycled pipe

WP = William Playne. 1865

W. Nash Engineer. Was this William Nash (Glos.)

James Gordon and Co water turbine. Inlet pipe in foreground

Longfords or Longford's Mill, Avening Road, near Nailsworth (Stroud), Glos.

A former woollen mill, now partly converted to an attractive housing complex, while two large buildings are currently (2016) are awaiting development.

The mill was served by a large reservoir (Gatcombe Water) which once powered five waterwheels. Latterly it drove an unusual water turbine, coupled to a Laurence, Scott and Co alternator, still in situ. A compound high speed steam engine by Belliss and Morcom (Works No. 2286) and a W. H. Allen, Sons and Co diesel engine also remain.

The double outlet Francis water turbine was made by James Gordon and Co. The 100 HP Belliss & Morcom steam engine was made in 1904 and drove a 75 kW Mather and Platt 235 V DC dynamo. The 1947 232 HP Allen diesel engine drove an English Electric 415 V alternator.

Photographs of the engines here

A concise account of the mill and its history were given in the Industrial Archaeology Review in 1993, shortly after the mill closed, from which the following information is drawn: The mill complex is described as 'a classic example of a woollen mill which has grown piecemeal over three centuries.' The site was reputed to have been used for cloth production since the 14th C., but the oldest mill buildings date from the mid 17th C., when owned by the Pinfold family. In the mid 18th C. Thomas Pinfold leased the mill to Thomas Playne. At the beginning of the 19th C. the owners were William Playne and Peter Playne. In 1806 they built a 15 acre mill pond with a 150 yd dam across the valley. In 1815 a 14 HP Boulton and Watt beam engine was installed at the 'Lake Mill', owned by Peter Playne, while in 1823 William Playne installed a 10 HP B&W engine in his part of the mill, probably in the 'Old Mill'. In 1858 there was an ambitious expansion programme, which included the construction of spinning mill.

Until 1797 Martha Playne was the proprietor, and on her retirement the firm became known as William Playne & Co. The firm established a high reputation for broadcloth.

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