Mill Open Weekend
Cancelled:
We have had an annual Mill Open Weekend for almost a decade now – John and I love nothing more than polishing up our vintage machines, hiring the marquee, and opening our doors and inviting you all in to share our woolly world for the weekend… So it is with a heavy heart that I have to let you know that we’ve decided we will not be able to host you as our guests this year….
Given the current circumstances cancelling our 2020 Mill Open Weekend seems like the only responsible decision. We know many of you love attending as much as we enjoy having you – so all I can say is lets try not to be too glum and instead look forward to 2021 when we’ll be able to celebrate in style!!
On a brighter note, we are investigating moving some aspects of the Mill Open Weekend online and maybe holding a few live Q&As with John and introducing you to machines (and the glorious fibre tubs in Tops Alley). So more info on this will follow later…
Our 2021 dates will be Sat 5th & Sun 6th of June – below you will find all the info about this event
We would like to invite you to our Mill Open Weekend
– on Sat 5th & Sun 6th June 2021
– 10am till 5pm (with FREE entry)
– with viewings of the Mill (click here to book)
– and also a Yarn, Tops and Sock sale (plus tea & cake!)
– at our Mill in South Molton (see bottom of post for address & directions)
Our Mill in South Molton is one of only a handful of small-scale worsted spinning Mills still operating in the UK. Although we established our company 20 years ago, we have been at our current Mill location in South Molton coming up to seven years. Here John Arbon, our leader in all things wonderfully woolly, and his side-kick Juliet, alongside his trusty Mill team Helena, Phil, Jack, Sonja, Frankie and Natasha, create and make all our luxurious Tops and Yarns.
Many moons ago John moved his cherished vintage Mill machinery to its new South Molton home where we are now (just down the road from our local British Wool Marketing Board grading station). He slowly, but surely, lovingly dismantled his machines, moved them all, then revamped and re-assembled them at our bigger and brighter premises. At the end of 2014 our new spinner (Kevin) arrived, followed in 2016 by Gino (a cone winder who came all the way from Italy). Then in 2017 our smallest machine joined us … Thumbelina – she is a baby skeiner and makes all our lovely KBN minis and in 2018 A2D2 came along – a new gillbox with quite a character, whilst 2019 saw the arrival 2 new splicers – baby splice and mummy splice.
Tours of our Mill are not usually available, but on this special weekend it will be open for viewings throughout both days, so people can see and learn about our vintage spinning and processing machinery. We will have viewing slots where people will be able to look at the machinery at their own pace. John, and his 78 dancette record player, will be on hand to explain things as you travel through the Mill, providing a one-on-one informative visit. Info boards about the Mill machines and our spinning process will also be available. Each 30 minute session offers the opportunity to wander around the Mill, soak everything up and ask as many questions as you fancy.
Click Here to Book A Machine Viewing
Sessions will be every half hour from 10am to 4pm … these are available to book online by clicking the link above (or over the phone). Thanks
However, there is absolutely no need to go on a Mill machine viewing – you’re more than welcome to just come along and spend some time with us during the day, have a chat to like-minded folk and browse our woolly wares.
As part of our Mill Open Weekend we will be having a sale and creating some limited edition special woolly items – giving all visitors the opportunity to gather up some Yarns and Tops at discounted prices. And to make the day complete, there will be tea and local homemade cakes on hand to refresh and content.
We will also have our regular ‘Show & Tell’ – where any visitor can bring along and show us any item that they have created from our fibre or yarn (be it spun or felted, crocheted, knitted or woven) … each person will be issued with a raffle ticket and entered into a prize draw for a chance to win a goodie bag of woolly treats.
Please bear in mind, we are happy for children to come along to the Mill Open Weekend, but due to health and safety restrictions, children under 11 cannot go round the Mill, and any children between 11 and 16 must be accompanied by a responsible adult over 18. We also love dogs, so any that are well behaved (on a lead) will be more than welcome, but again they will not be able to go round the Mill.
During the weekend some of our happy shop / office folk will also be in attendance … myself – Juliet (John’s other half), Judi, Julia and maybe even Ginette. So do come and join us … have a look around our Mill, fondle some yarn and fibre, taste some tempting fancies and, on top of that, you may learn a few of John’s most yarny woolly secrets!!!
Take care,
Juliet
MORE INFO & FAQ:
Date: Saturday 5th & Sunday 6th June 2021
Time: 10am-5pm
Location: FIBRE HARVEST, Unit 6, Hacche Lane Business Park, Pathfields Industrial Estate, South Molton, Devon EX36 3JB
Telephone: 01598 752490
e-mail: [email protected]
website: www.jarbon.com
Entry Price: Free
Sessions: There will be viewing sessions in the Mill throughout both days. Please click here to book, or give us a ring. Thanks
You will need to be at the Mill at least 10 minutes before your session starts. If you cannot attend your booked session for any reason, then please let us know so we can pass your place on to someone else. During each session you will have approx. 30 mins to wander around the Mill, soak everything up and ask as many questions as you fancy.
Children: Children are able to attend the Mill Open Weekend, but due to health & safety restrictions children under 11 cannot view the machines, and any children between 11 and 16 must be accompanied by an adult over 18.
Dogs: Well behaved dogs (on a lead) can attend the Mill Open Weekend, but cannot go inside the Mill.
Parking: There is ample parking outside the Mill, however if you have any special parking / drop off requirements please contact us in advance and we will do all we can to help. We also have overflow parking arranged very close by (within a 5 minute walk) for larger vehicles if needed.
Directions: The Mill is situated on the outskirts of South Molton (just off the A361) in the Pathfields Industrial Estate … the entrance to Hacche Lane Business Park is almost opposite (across the other side of the main road) from the large and unmissable Mole Valley Farmers and also runs up at the back of RGB … once in the Hacche Lane Business Park you will see us quite clearly waving and smiling. Basically if you get lost at all around South Molton just ask anyone directions to the main Mole Valley (everyone knows it). Please note, the Mill is not actually on the road called Hacche Lane (this is somewhere else in South Molton), the Mill is in Hacche Lane Business Park on Pathfields Industrial Estate.
Accommodation: If you would like some information about places to stay near the Mill in South Molton please click here.
Book A Mill Viewing Below:
