Coldharbour Mill offers group visitors a rare opportunity to walk straight into Britain’s industrial past while enjoying all the ease and comfort needed for a modern group day out. Set beside the River Culm in the Devon countryside, this remarkable site is one of the oldest working woollen mills in the UK, with continuous production stretching back to 1797. Yet its story stretches even further back: a mill has stood at Coldharbour, Uffculme, since the time of the Domesday Book. For groups seeking depth, atmosphere and meaningful historical immersion, this is an exceptional choice.

The experience unfolds through live demonstrations, heritage machinery in action, and access to nationally and internationally significant collections that illuminate the evolution of textile manufacture. English Heritage has praised Coldharbour Mill as probably one of the best-preserved textile mill complexes in the country, retaining authentic buildings, original power systems and much of the functioning machinery used well into the 20th century. Groups aren’t simply looking at history; they are stepping directly into the working world that once powered Britain’s industrial rise and contributed to global trade networks.

Event days are a particular favourite with group organisers, when the mill’s impressive steam engines are fired up, filling the building with the rhythmic movement and mechanical heartbeat of a true Victorian factory setting. For visitors fascinated by engineering, industrial heritage or the social changes of the 18th and 19th centuries, it is an unforgettable moment that brings the past roaring into the present. Those who prefer a gentler pace can enjoy the wetland, wellbeing and wildlife spaces, which invite visitors to pause, observe local nature and unwind within the peaceful Devon landscape.