Cambrian Mills
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| Cambrian Mills | |
|---|---|
 The mills in 1875 | |
  Location in Powys | |
 | |
| Built | 1856 |
| Location | Newtown, Powys, Wales |
| Coordinates | 52°30′58″N 3°18′42″W / 52.516180°N 3.311564°W |
| Industry | Woollen industry in Wales |
| Products | Woven wool |
| Employees | c. 300 |
| Defunct | 1912 |
The Cambrian Mills was a complex of woollen mill buildings in Newtown, Powys, Wales, that operated from 1856 to 1912, when they were destroyed by fire. At one time the mill complex was the largest woollen daddy in Wales. The mills owed their success to the pioneering mail order business of the local Newtown draper Pryce Pryce-Jones. In the longer term they were unable to compete with woollen mills in northern England due to the cost of importing coal to power the machinery and the lack of rail links to their natural market in the south of Wales.
The Cambrian Mills, which opened in 1856, were the first steam-driven mills in Newton.[1] The mill complex was beside the canal terminus on the east bank of the Severn.[2] The Cambrian Mill was built in 1861 and rebuilt in 1875.[3] They expanded to become the largest Welsh woollen mills.[1]
The local Newtown draper Pryce Pryce-Jones exploited the railway to found the first mail-order business for his flannel clothes.[4] Pryce Jones launched his mail order business in 1859, selling Welsh flannels to local people. He had impressive ability as a promoter, and was personally responsible for the success of the Newtown flannel industry in the last part of the 19th century. By the end of the 1860s he was able to claim that Florence Nightingale and Queen Victoria were among his loyal customers.[3]
Success (1865–82)
In 1865 the Cambrian Flannel Company of Newtown and Llanidloes was established with the backing of MP Sir Charles Hanbury Tracy, and acquired many of the mills in both Newtown and Llanidloes. The company bought the Cambrian Mill complex in 1866.[3] The company modernized the factory so it was the most advanced facility in Wales. It diversified into making plain and coloured flannels, shawls, whittles, hose and tweeds. The company expanded further in 1873 and became the Welsh Woollen Manufacturing Company, and made further upgrades to the Cambrian Mills.[2] The company brought in experienced tweed workers from Scotland. A row of brick houses was built in 1875 for these workers and their families.[5] In 1879 Pryce-Jones opened a large Royal Welsh Warehouse opposite the Newtown railway station.[4]