Finch Foundry

 

 

Some Local History

The main farm produce, both of Sticklepath and its surrounding neighbours, being grain and sheep, much of the industry was based on grist milling and wool fulling (shrinking, compacting and beating) mills. In the late 1700s there was Curzon's or Wilmott's mill at Cleave, three mills on the old Ballamy's Tenement (later Manor Mills now Finch Foundry) and two grist mills, later Western and Carnalls, beside the Taw river bridge.

In 1743, John Wesley, passing through the village, was stopped and befriended by Quakers. The following year, he stopped and famously preached by the White Rock on the mount above the village. From this time, Wesley's Methodism took hold in the village, first with meetings in private houses and then, in 1816, with the building of the Methodist Chapel. The early 19th century was yet another period when religion and industry came together to develop Sticklepath. In 1810, the Methodist Pearce family, wool staplers and serge makers from Horrabridge and Hatherleigh, rebuilt the burnt down Western & Carnalls mill and turned it into the flourishing Cleave Mill wool factory. In 1814, the Finch family (which produced several Methodist ministers) took over the lease of the Manor Mills, first converting part into an agricultural tool factory and then, with the decline in the wool industry, converting the rest.

The Finch family prospered and finally bought the premises and much property in the village as well. In 1830, William Pearce bought the old Quaker burial ground and gave it to the village as an un-denominational cemetery. Fire destroyed the old cob and thatch Chantry chapel, in 1850. This was rebuilt in 1875 by John Cook, a property owner and former butcher and landlord of the Cornish Inn (once the 'Wagon & Horses', now the 'Taw River Inn'). The village hall was donated to the village in 1897 by a descendent of the Pearce family and has been improved and added to ever since.

 

 

In 1949, the mills by the Taw at Albany, were converted to living premises. By the 1950's, Cleave mill was derelict and in 1960 was converted to dwellings. The hammers and wheels of the Finch Foundry fell silent in 1960. They are now banging and turning again in the form of the Museum of Water Power and Rural Industry.

Sticklepath
Okehampton,
EX20 2NW
Tel: 01837 840046

Owner: The National Trust
Opening times:
15th March - 2nd November 11.00am - 5.00 pm (daily, except Tuesday)