From humble beginnings as a 19th-century maltings and mill, Puxton Mill grew to become a beating heart of Kidderminster’s rope, twine, and carpet-making industry. It began with Leonard Duncan, a local maltster and freemason, whose son-in-law, Joseph Hall Garlick, briefly took over the mill before it fell silent in the 1860s.

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But in 1865, a new chapter began. Frederick Francis Jelleyman, the son of a rope maker, brought the site back to life—first with rope-making, then with rugs, and eventually fine carpets. Under the name F.F.

 

Jelleyman & Sons, the family built a thriving business that expanded over a century, weathering bankruptcy, war, and industrial transformation.

Through innovation, resilience, and strong family ties, the Jelleymans turned Puxton Mill into a hub of manufacturing—from producing ropes for local industry to carpets for places as far-flung as Las Vegas casinos. Even during wartime, when carpets gave way to gun mountings and gas mask storage, the mill served its community and country.

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Though the Jelleyman name faded by the 1970s, their legacy remains woven into the fabric of Kidderminster’s industrial story. Today, Puxton Mill stands as a testament to local enterprise, family heritage, and the enduring spirit of craftsmanship.