Silk Mill Collection

Lombe's silk mill, Derby, First water-powered textile mill in Britain c1720
865721 Lombe's silk mill, Derby, First water-powered textile mill in Britain c1720.; Universal History Archive/UIG

Taylor's silk mill, 1860
3480177 Taylor's silk mill, 1860; (add.info.: Taylor's (formerly LOMBE's) silk mill, Derby. This was the first water-powered textile mill to be built in England (ca 1720)

Dyeing rooms in a silk mill, 1885
3480217 Dyeing rooms in a silk mill, 1885; (add.info.: US silk production. Dyeing rooms in a silk mill 1885.); Universal History Archive/UIG

Doubling silk, 1843
3480222 Doubling silk, 1843; (add.info.: Doubling silk: Lombes silk mill, Derby, In this process two or more of the spun threads were laid parallel on a bobbin ready to be twisted on the throwing)

England, Hampshire, Whitchurch, The Historic Whitchurch Silk Mill and Museum Reflected in The River Test

The Gathering of Mulberry Leaves and the Feeding of the Silkworms, Plate 5 from "The I... ca. 1595
The Gathering of Mulberry Leaves and the Feeding of the Silkworms, Plate 5 from " The Introduction of the Silkworm" [Vermis Sericus], ca. 1595

The Reeling of Silk, Plate 6 from "The Introduction of the Silkworm"[Vermis Sericus], ... ca. 1595
The Reeling of Silk, Plate 6 from " The Introduction of the Silkworm" [Vermis Sericus], ca. 1595

Plate 6 (Examining the Newly Spun Cocoons), from the series "Kaiko Yashinai-gusa", Japan, c. 1772

The Making of Silk Floss, ca. 1790. Creator: Kitagawa Utamaro
The Making of Silk Floss, ca. 1790

Imported Silk Reeling Machine at Tsukiji in Tokyo, 4th month, 1872

Derby, c1910. Creator: Unknown
Derby, c1910. Sir Thomas Lombes Silk Mill. Silks, Lace and Porcelain. Midland Railway Locomotive Works. Population, 123, 410. Industrial scene in the county town of Derbyshire

Thomas Lombes silk mill, Derby, England. Sir Thomas Lombe, 1685-1739. English merchant and developer of machinery for silk throwing. From Old England: A Pictorial Museum, published 1847

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Discover the rich history of England's Whitchurch Silk Mill in Hampshire, where the art of silk production was once a thriving industry. Witness the gathering of mulberry leaves and the feeding of silkworms, as depicted in Karel van Mallery's engravings from the late 16th century. Observe the reeling of silk from the cocoons, a process showcased in plates from both "The Introduction of the Silkworm" and "Kaiko Yashinai-gusa." Delve into the making of silk floss and marvel at the imported silk reeling machine in 19th century Japan. Travel back to Derby, England, and visit Sir Thomas Lombe's silk mill, a pioneering development in the modern silk industry during the 18th century. Explore the intricacies of silk production through the ages, from ancient techniques to innovative machinery.