Otterburn Mill
Otterburn Mill is a former textile mill in Otterburn, Northumberland, northeast England. It lies just south of the Otterburn Tower along the A696 road next to a bridge over the River Rede. It was owned by the Waddell family for many years and is over 250 years old.
The mill is noted for its pram rugs and its crowning moment was on the birth of Princess Elizabeth in 1926, when Buckingham Palace contacted the mill requesting a rug for the royal pram.
Up until 2025 Otterburn Mill functioned as a shop selling outdoor, country and lifestyle clothing for men, women and children; there was also an onsite café. Much of the historic machinery could still be seen and the history of the Waddell family was showcased across the site. In June that year it closed, with the loss of 28 jobs; the property was subsequently put on the market for £720,000.
History
Dating from the 18th century, Otterburn Mill was leased in 1821 to William Waddell.. What began as a cottage industry grew, under successive generations of Waddells, into a factory-based operation as production became increasingly mechanised. In 1910 a diesel engine was installed, which drove banks of power looms via line shafts in the main workshop.In the twentieth century, Otterburn Mill became 'a brand leader in woven cloths'; its distinctive tweeds were used by some of the leading fashion houses of Europe, including Dior, Balmain, Schiaparelli and Paquin. They were also popular for rural pursuits among the aristocracy and Queen Alexandra was a keen purchaser of the mill's wares.
By the 1970s the textile industry in Britain had gone into decline; manufacturing ceased at Otterburn in December 1976. Twenty years later John Waddell sold the buildings to Euan Pringle; they were converted into a shop selling outdoor and country clothing, with historic machinery and other items retained for display.
On 1st May 2025, the Mill was put up for sale by its current owner, Euan Pringle, but a month later it went into liquidation and the business closed.