Candlemaking

March 2004

Wensley is quite some way from Skipton, but it seems that the nearest traditional candlemaker is here. I met Mick and Jen White, and their daughter Rachel who have been using the traditional method of candlemaking since 1971.

The family run business of White Rose Candles was established in Leeds in 1971, and moved to their present workshop in Wensley in 1978. They have always taken pride in producing their own long lasting, smokeless candles in a wide variety of colours and designs.

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Mick's background as a research chemist and scrapyard inventor, is responsible for the high quality of the candles and the innovative equipment used. Rachel and Jen concentrate on design and colour. They produce candles for the home, garden, weddings, etc.
They also supply the more traditional market of restaurants, churches and cathedrals.

Although this is a compact little workshop, it is a hive of activity, and visitors can watch the various processes involved in the making of candles. These include traditional dipping techniques and casting methods. The candles are made from bees wax and paraffin wax, with a variety of traditional and modern methods using unusual and interesting equipment which is designed and made by Mick.

White Rose Candle Workshop
Wensley Mill
Wensley
Leyburn
North Yorkshire
DL8 4HR

Tel 01969 623544

website: White Rose Candle Workshop
email: whiterosecandles@freenet.co.uk

Page and Pictures by CragFace

The building housing the workshop was a 19th century water mill - the water wheel still exists and mills have been recorded on this site since 1203.

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