I am lucky enough to be the site manager at Finch Foundry. Finch is a water-powered hammer mill located in Sticklepath, owned and maintained by the National Trust.
From its opening in 1814 by the entrepreneurial Finch family, it grew to become a major player in Devon’s rural industry sector, using three water wheels to help produce up to 400 edge tools per day for the local farming, mining and quarry industries. The mill closed in 1960 due to instability, both physical and financial and was re-opened by the family a few years later as a museum. It was gifted to the National Trust in 2004 to help preserve it as the last working water-powered hammer mill in existence in England.
In 2018 we will be exploring the contribution of two members of the Finch family who took the reins at the company during times of need. Emlin and Rebecca stepped in when their husbands died in order to keep the business going. Their contributions saw them taking the place back from the brink of bankruptcy, not just keeping things going but creating an industry leader in the area.
This project to show their contribution is part of the National Trust’s ‘Women in Power’ programme, helping tell stories of women who contributed to society during the centenary of the Women’s Suffrage movement.
As a part of this, we would like to hear local people’s stories of suffragettes in the family and the things they achieved towards creating a more balanced society. These stories will go on display at Finch Foundry so we can build a better picture of the area at this massive time of change.
If you would like to contribute please send through your stories to me, Ben, the Foundry Manager, at Benjamin.shapcott@nationaltrust.org.uk, post them to us as Finch Foundry, Sticklepath, Okehampton, EX20 2NW or call 01837 840046.