Getting your wool processed fleece by fleece

Rampisham Hill Mill has established itself as the 'go to' mill for smallholders, crafters, and spinning/weaving guilds alike Jack Smellie visits to find out why 

- Rampisham Hill Mill

Walking through the grey, metal door and stepping inside Rampisham Hill Mill is a little bit of a Tardis experience. Once you are through the welcoming reception area, the ceiling rises up, and despite being 'busy' the whole building is filled with light and space - and wool. Lots and lots of wool. It is difficult to know whether to look up at the mezzanine area with the tantalising sight of skeins and cones full of yarn and, what I later decided was my favourite machine of them all, the 'Hank Winder', or to look forwards and sideways at the vast array of machines all ready and waiting to work their magic and turn raw, full-of-vegetable -matter wool into soft, fluffy clouds; silky slivers or bouncy, soft yarn. And then there are the boxes, sacks and bags, all filled with fibre in various states, waiting for the next stage in their journey. The array of colours is vast and the desire to touch and feel the softness and silkiness, just a little bit irresistible. And so I didn't. Resist that is!

BEST POSSIBLE PRODUCT

One thing that became very clear to me as I was given the guided tour by owners David and Ruth Wilkins, was that if you send your precious fleeces to Rampisham, they will be processed into the best product possible, one that absolutely gets the most from the fibre and fulfils the expectations of you, the owner, completely.