The Causeway and Factory

The Town or Townford Mill on the River Colne was built in 1788 for grinding corn. In 1825 it was bought by Samuel Courtauld and converted to silk production in which he was particularly successful and was at one time employing over 1,000 female weavers in much enlarged premises. During the reign of Queen Victoria the wearing of mourning crepe had become a social obligation and Courtaulds were in the forefront in the supply of this material. The company was early into development of the new man-made fibres and the overwhelming success of its 'Celanese' artificial silk gave the Halstead factory many years of prosperous activity. Foreign competitors forced the closure of the factory in 1983 but the old mill has been preserved and continues to provide one of Halstead's most picturesque corners. The octagonal building to the right of the river, also preserved, was the original gatekeepers lodge.