Do you have anything historical on silk production in the Horningsham/Corsley Heath area?
Not really Im afraid. There was a silk factory at Whitbourne Moor, Corsley, that was established by a member of the local Coombes family of clothiers. This was probably in the early 19th century and it worked until the middle of that century. Much of the local employment was in winding silk and about 20 women and girls were so employed. There were two fulling mills at Horningsham and one of them, the lower mill had been converted for the silk trade by 1812 when it was occupied by John Ward. I do not know when this ceased working but it was probably in the mid 19th century too. Bull Mill at Crockerton was leased by the Ward family of Bruton, Somerset, in 1823. They were long established silk throwsters and provided very good working conditions for women and children at Crockerton warm milk and water at breakfast time and a lending library.
