Bradford On Avon, Wiltshire
An elevated view looking over the River Avon towards the railway lines and the centre of the town. The Saxon Chuch of St Lawrence and medieval Holy Trinity Church are at the bottom of the frame. Bradford on Avon is a small town popular with tourists today (2014) but this image shows evidence of industry. The cloth industry developed from the 13th century. By 1800 it is said that there were 32 factories in the town. Larger mills were built in the early ninteenth century. Kingston Mill dates from 1807 and still stands. By the 1830s the cloth industry was in decline. In 1870 there was a brief revival and the present Abbey Mill was built. In 1905 the last cloth mill in the town shut down. The Avon Rubber Company occupied Abbey Mill and production continued until 1992. Some former mills have been converted to flats, apartments and housing.
