A softly focused, square format view of Britain’s industrial heritage: the clock tower of the former Bliss Tweed Mill at Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, England, UK, seen reflected in the calm surface of the lake in landscaped gardens enjoyed by its present occupants, leaseholders of luxury apartments created after the mill closed in 1980.
Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, England, UK: a soft focus, square format, reflected view of part of Britain’s industrial heritage: the domed clock tower, flanked by decorative balustrades and urns, of the former Bliss Tweed Mill, which produced fine quality textiles for more than 100 years before finally closing its doors in 1980. This image was captured close to the calm surface of the lake in the landscaped gardens enjoyed by the mill’s current occupants, leaseholders who chose to buy luxury apartments created in the former spinning mill after it closed. They also have the use of indoor parking, a heated swimming pool, tennis and squash courts and a gymnasium. The circular clock tower, capped by its graceful ribbed, lead-covered dome, supports a lofty chimney that used to draw smoke from the furnace boiling water to power the mill’s steam-driven machines. The smokestack rises to a height of 503 m (165 ft) and is a well-known Cotswolds landmark. The clock tower bears the date ‘ 1872’, the year in which the spinning mill was built for Victorian textiles manufacturer William Bliss. The 5-storey building was designed by Lancashire architect George Woodhouse in the style of an English stately home: faced with Cotswold limestone and with its profile embellished by square corner towers topped by urns. The wool, once spun in the brick-vaulted interior, was woven into cloth in a lower, multi-gabled building nearby. Bliss Mill produced tweed cloth from both Cotswold and Shetland wool. Good quality tweed was popular in Britain’s late-Victorian and Edwardian eras and at one time, the mill employed 700 spinners, weavers and other staff. The business thrived during the 1914-18 First World War thanks to large orders for khaki cloth for British Army uniforms.
Size: 2615px × 2615px
Location: Bliss Tweed Mill, Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, England, UK.
Photo credit: © Terence Kerr / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
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