Image Ref : SF 0011.tif

Churchward's Woollen Mill 1902

Staff at Churchward Woollen Mills, Harbertonford 1902. Back L2R Jack Harding, Tom Rendle, George Grant, Dick Rendle, Joe Beer, Frank Slocombe, Hermon Bickford, Arthur Gill, Chaffe, Tom Willis. Middle L2R Syd Haddy, Bill Putt, Alf Baskerville, Bill Bragg, Bill Came, ?., Hartnell Sloman, George Rowe, Fred Beer. Front L2R Bill Palmer, Jack Finch. When John Churchward (from Buckfastleigh Mill) took it over it was a grist mill with a wheel in the Harbourne stream, two floors extended to six when it changed to wool. In 1889 it employed about 100 persons, including women and children. Churchward's Devon blanket, 100% pure wool, was manufactured, the trade mark in the corner of each blanket depicts Buckfastleigh church as it was there John Churchward traded in wool and agricultural seeds. The company closed in the 1950s partly due to the cost of bringing the old mill up to date to compete in the modern blanket and cloth trade. These photographs the property of Stanley Finch of Harbertonford, son of A.R.Finch who is mentioned on most of the photographs. He was a council foreman and later ran the Red Lion Inn with his wife Ruby Finch (Rhoda).