Revolutionary at a time when revolution was the norm, the Phillips brothers vision of the perfect weaving mill was born in the small village of Tean in Staffordshire.  This large complex of mill buildings was constructed utilising the most modern building methods of the day - a cast iron frame. One of the first such constructions in the country.

In 1747, John and Nathaniel Phillips established Tean Hall Mills after buying Tean Hall, a charming timber framed house built in 1613.  With the land that came with the old house, the brothers were able, over a period of time, to establish one of the most successful tape-weaving mills in the country, producing tape of such high quality that it carried the business successfully through the following 200 years.

Where once weavers worked from home, the Phillips brothers brought all the looms from outlying cottages into the Mill and modernised them so that they were able to produce a far superior, more closely woven tape than had to date, been possible to make on the old looms.

But this created problems of a different kind for the weavers' families.  Where once the women could work from home,  they now had to work at the mill, causing difficulties that any modern mother can sympathise with.  Who would look after the children when they went to work at the factory?

Once again these men of vision had a revolutionary idea. Why not employ children's nurses to care for the younger children on the Mill premises allowing the mothers to return to work soon after childbirth and yet still be able to feed their babies.  This was, quite possibly the first creche in the country and for the older children, they built a school. There can be few employers in the country which have inspired the loyalty of its workforce as much as the public-spirited Phillips brothers.

Tean Hall Mill continued to flourish well into the C20 and contributed to the defence of her country by producing tape for marking out minefields, webbing for parachutes, gas masks and rucksacks.  They even produced German uniform insignias and labels to be used by under cover agents involved in espionage or sabotage behind enemy lines. Indistinguishable from the genuine article, unused badges and labels remaining after the war were sent to be displayed at the War museum. Tean Hall Mill then produced the ribbon upon which hung the medals to decorate our courageous War heroes.

Perhaps it is because of the philanthropy of the Phillips brothers, and the consideration they showed their workers that these old buildings have such a welcoming feel. There is a very relaxed atmosphere throughout Tean Hall Mills and now that that the Mill has retired from its working life, it seems a natural progression for it to provide comfortable homes designed to fit the needs of  life in the new millenium.

John and Nathaniel Phillips wove their dream so that you can live yours at Tean Hall Mills.