Two Unusual Buildings in Trowbridge
The Blind House and Handle House
The Blind House, Trowbridge
Trowbridge, the County town of Wiltshire, has many historical buildings. Some are left over from the days when the wool industry flourished. Today, I am looking at The Blind House and the nearby Handle House.
The term ‘blind house’ is local to lock-ups found in Wiltshire and Somerset. A lock-up predated the cells of police stations and was where you would find drunks and more serious criminals locked up until they could be taken to court, often the next day. They were called ‘blind houses’ due to them having no windows. The miscreants of Trowbridge had to be taken to Salisbury, around 30 miles away to attend court.
This lock-up in Trowbridge contains two cells, each with a bench that serves as a bed and a toilet (not flushing, but it is next to the River!) A date carved high on an interior wall in the left-hand cell boldly declares 1758. This would appear to be the likely build date of this blind house. A town lock-up likely existed before this date, and documentary evidence indicates there was one around 1690. There are references to stocks and a pillory near this site as early as 1615.
A police station with cells was built in Trowbridge in 1854, putting the Blind House out of use. It was saved from demolition in 1895 when the Urban District Council adopted it. The plaque on the wall relates a couple of interesting stories.
There was a riot in 1826 over the fixing of bread prices. One of the ring leaders was incarcerated in the blind house. His supporters took the roof off the lock-up to allow him to escape. That’s not the only time the roof was tampered with. Hitler had a go, too!
In July 1942, a bomb was dropped, destroying a building, I would guess, approximately 150 yards away on Stallard Street. Sadly, two civilians were killed, and the roof of the Blind House was once again taken off. It remained damaged until 1950 when it was restored.
As part of Queen Elizabeth’s Jubilee celebrations, the Blind House was renovated and is still well-maintained. It is occasionally open to the public.
Let’s take a look at our second building.
Handle House, Trowbridge
Trowbridge was once known as the Manchester of the West due to its woollen mills. Wool can be napped to raise and soften the pile. The teasel plant was used and was very effective. The sharp hooks of the teasel would lift the wool, making it more valuable to use as it would feel more luxurious and softer, plus act as better insulation.
The wool was napped when wet, and this wetness softened the teasels, making them less effective and more prone to break. The teasels were dried and could then be used again. Hence, we have this building. The name Handle House comes from the fact that the teasels were attached to handles. You can see in the photo that the building is built with plenty of ventilation.
Handle House is built on a bridge over the River Bliss, the source of water power for the many mills that once were in the town. Completed in 1844 it was part of Studley Mills, and some of the old mill buildings are now apartments, with some recently completed. Not many teasel-drying buildings remain as they were not built as the strongest structures with that many missing bricks. They are also useless for anything else without building a building with them. This one is grade 2 listed and has been used as a commercial office, and last year, it was discovered to be used as a cannabis factory! There was a strong stench of cannabis that gave it away. Not the sharpest of criminals when they looked at this place with its ventilation holes for their illegal activities.
It was a clever decision to build over the river as the airflow along the river is more consistent than in a factory yard. Using teasels made the whole process very sustainable and provided farmers, particularly in Lancashire and Somerset, with a source of income.
Sadly, today, the woollen industry has gone. It did manage to survive until late in the twentieth century when the last mill closed. The Trowbridge Museum occupies part of the old mill.
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