Madurai Mills - Madurai Tourism - Madurai Coats - Coats Viyella

In the earlier part of the 1880’s two brothers Andrew & Frank Harvey from Scotland, came to India to find their fortune. They started a huge spinning mill & it soon became the hub of the city. The mill grew over the years and it become the largest mill in india & second largest in Asia. One can still see the heavy stone construction & louvered frosted glass panes.

The spinning machines were powered by a gigantic turbine – a large revolving two story high drum. This became a symbol of Madura Mills, as it was called back then. It can still be seen & stands witness to the mills history over the years. The Harvey brothers employed people from all castes something which was unheard of during that time. For the first time cast barriers were weakened and a large number of people worked under one roof. There was even a colony established for these works to live (Harvipatti). The mill even ran its own train – a special arrangement with the railways. A quaint little steam engine had to pull the carriage backwards towards the mill, as there was no provision for it to turn 180 degrees. This carried workmen to the mill every day.
Over the years Madura mills or Madura coats as it is called now, has seen many charges, but it there is one mill in the world that can be described as stately, imposing and with a rich history that’s intertwined with the history of the city it is Madura Mills.