PLANS to carry out structural and roof repairs within a section of Tone Works have been submitted to Somerset Council.

Tone Works, located on the north-western edge of Wellington, is described in the application as a ‘heritage at risk’.

The Grade II* listed complex of buildings which once formed the north range of the cloth finishing works, dye works, reservoirs and water systems formerly belonging to Fox Brothers & Co, known for their fine worsted and woollen cloths.

The application refers to work to be undertaken at the North Dry House (tentering room), Engine House and Electric Motor House.

Tone Works remains the largest intact textile finishing works in the south west and likely contains the last most complete set of historic textile finishing machinery in the country.

But, according to the application submitted by the architects, Thread: “The roofs of these areas are in a poor state, which is causing ongoing water ingress and deterioration to the structure and historic machinery below.

“In addition, the repairs to these roofs are required to be completed simultaneously with the previously approved roof repairs to the Finishing Shed due to access constraints.”

The proposed work includes: Removal of existing slates, removal of existing battens, structural repairs to timber roof support beams, trusses and principal rafters, reroofing of certain areas with new, undyed timber battens and reclaimed slates, installation of new rainwater goods, installation of new bat roosting opportunities, repairs to masonry and copings and structural repairs to timber boarded loft floor or North Dry House.

According to the Tone Works Heritage Statement submitted by Threads, “the conservation repairs proposed for Tone Works have been considered with this understanding of the site’s heritage and significance.

“Tone Works has the potential to feed into Wellington’s collective memories of its past and strengthen its identity.”

In 2023, Somerset Council secured nearly £20-million from the government’s levelling up fund to regenerate Tone Works and the neighbouring Tonedale Mill.

In August 2025, The council said that £3,676,000 of the fund will be spent to future-proof large sections of the Tone Works site, with a further £105,000 being provided by Historic England.

The remaining grant money - roughly £16.3-million - will be targeted towards Tonedale Mill, which unlike Tone Works is currently in private hands.

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Somerset Council aim to make a decision on this application by April 30.