Monument record MDO19976 - Gummer's Twine Works, Atram Bridge, West Road, Bridport

The former Gummer’s twine manufactory established 1783, until 1809, when it was sold and converted to a foundry, the Grove Iron Foundry. It comprised a bolling mill and pond, with spinning ways on the other side of West Road.

Site of a twine factory at Atram Bridge established by Robert Gummer. He acquired the site in 1783 and dug a mill pond and built a bolling mill, with the spinning ways over the road (in present day Symene Close). The business was transferred to his sons, Robert and William Pugsley Gummer in 1793. Robert Gummer, jun. is listed as a twine manufacturer in the ‘Universal British Directory’ dated c. 1793. The site was sold in 1809 to Robert Sprake, who converted the premises to a foundry and flax machinery manufactory (1).

The mill pond was filled in during the 1970s (2).

<1> Short, E B, 1982, ‘Bridport Textile Industry’; Somerset and Dorset Notes and Queries 31, 205-209 (Article in serial). SDO10520.

<2> Bone, M R, 1985, 'The Bridport Flax and Hemp Industry' Bristol Industrial Archaeological Society Journal, 29 (Article in serial). SWX1452.

Record last edited

May 21 2008 9:07AM