A NEW book full of photographs of Wellington’s historic Toneworks site has been published by the architects who have been working on its restoration.

Thread, a female-led team of specialist conservation architects, has been working with Somerset Council to develop a strategy for conservation and repairs of the Grade II* listed heritage at risk site, which is considered of national and international significance.

Toneworks is the former dyeing and wet finishing factory for the world-renowned Fox Brothers woollen mill business which employed hundreds of Wellington people over the centuries.

Inside the derelict Toneworks site in Wellington.
Inside the derelict Toneworks site in Wellington. (Tindle News)

The former Somerset West and Taunton Council (SWT) bought the derelict site in 2020 to start a phased programme of works to put it in a better condition.

SWT initially tackled the most structurally complex and urgent problems on site and carried out a major decontamination project.

The site passed to the unitary Somerset Council which succeeded SWT in April of this year, with Wellington Town Council providing some financial support for the restoration programme.

Now, Threads has released its book ‘in celebration of recent achievements towards the conservation and repairs’.

Machinery lies abandoned in the Toneworks, in Wellington.
Machinery lies abandoned in the Toneworks, in Wellington. (Tindle News)

A spokeswoman said: “Packed full of curated decaying photography, this book captures a site caught in the past but on the edge of significant change.

“Curated to capture the site in a moment in time, the photography in this book shares the decay and character of this unusual industrial complex while the text succinctly documents past uses of the spaces and a sense of the feelings they evoke in the present day.

“Toneworks retains evidence of the development of power generation, demonstrating the use of early water power, steam, and electric power generation.

“A unique collection of machinery is housed within the dilapidated structures.

Abandoned machinery in the Toneworks, in Wellington.
Abandoned machinery in the Toneworks, in Wellington. (Tindle News)

“This book will appeal to history enthusiasts, local residents, urban explorers, architecture and photography fans alike.

“We would love to hear from people who have photos of the buildings as they once were, or those with stories or memories of working at Toneworks, to continue the process of documenting this special place.”

The book, by Claire Fear and Vanessa Ruhlig can be bought through Bookshop by the Blackdowns, in South Street, Wellington.