Quarry Bank Mill (Quarry Bank Mill & Styal Country Park)

Member Name: blissman70

Product:	Quarry Bank Mill & Styal Country Park
Date:	09/04/08 (431 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: History and entertaining education

Disadvantages: none

Brief history....

Quarry bank mill has one of the only working water mill left in Britain.
It is situated in the beautiful village of Styal, on the banks of the River Bollin
The Mill was built by Samuel Greg in 1784, with the giant metal water wheel being built between 1816 and 1820.
The original wheel broke in 1904 and was replaced years later by another iron wheel to make the Mill the proud owner of the last remaining working water wheel in Europe.
The mill was used for the 'spinning' of cotton (and is still used for that purpose today but more for visitors to see rather than commercial use), it was soon the largest cotton producing factory in its time.
Weaving was introduced to the Mill in 1834 by Robert Greg, (son of Samuel), so as to keep up with the revolution.

Samual Greg was an unusually kind employer for the time and treated his workers with great care and much compassion, building them houses in the nearby Styal village, when finished, the village included a chapel and a school.
The houses in the village are still there today to be seen and admired.

*The Apprentice house...

Also at the Mill Samuel was known to use child labour, as all employers used, but he treated the children a lot better than other employers would.
The children were housed in the nearby "apprentice house", a large building a short walk from the Mill.
The house shows how the children lived whilst working at the Mill, the N.T. tried to restore the house to its exact glory.
A school and a doctor were also provided for the children.

Surrounding the Apprentice house there is a well kept allotment which was used at the time for growing the workers food, the allotment was tendered by the elder children.
The smaller children were used in the Mill as they were more capable of getting under the machinery to fix any problems, (many children lost fingers, limbs or even their lives).

The house has tours several times a day with the story of how the workers were treated being told by some friendly members of National trust staff.

It only stopped mass producing in 1959, now only spinning and weaving so visitors can see how things worked.



The National Trust now own the building and the land and have done since 1939.

*Getting there.....

The Mill can be found just over a mile outside Wilmslow off the B5166 and 2 ½ miles from the Junction 5 of the M56.
It is 10 miles south of Manchester, (you can hear and see the planes coming in and out)
Buses can be used from Chesterfield.
The nearest Train station is Styal, (Sundays excluded)

*Prices....(as of April 2008)

Mill and Apprentice house tour: Adult-£9.00... Children- £4.70...family- £20
Mill only: Adult-£6,..children-£3.70,...family-£16
Estate: £3
Discounts for groups and public transport arrivals on request.

(note: all areas free for National Trust members)

*Opening times....

Mill/shop ...
Mar- Oct 11am-5pm, 7 days a week
Nov- Jan 11am-4pm, closed Monday and Tuesday

Apprentice House
Mar-Oct (tour times vary) 7 days a week
Nov-Jan (tour times vary) closed Monday and Tuesday

Garden...
Mar to Oct 11am-5pm... 7 days a week

Estate...
All year 7am -6pm 7 days a week
Restaurant
Mar- Oct 11am -5pm 7 days a week
Nov- Jan 11am-4pm closed Monday and Tuesday 

Open BH Mons, Boxing Day & New Year's Day.
Closed 24/25 Dec.

*Please note....
Mill: last admission 1hr before closing.
Apprentice House: limited availability - timed tickets only, available from Mill on early arrival.
Garden: timed tickets may be introduced during busy periods also Apprentice House.


The walks around each building/garden vary but make sure you give yourself plenty of time to spare.
The Mill may take 90 minutes to complete, add an extra 60 minutes if you want to go on the Apprentice house guided tour, (total 2 ½)

(Special tours can be arranged)

*Parking....

£3.00 for a car.
The car park is a good size, with a short walk downhill to the Mill.

There is a Restaurant at the foot of the Mill and a small shop opposite the play area.

Toilets can be found opposite the restaurant.

*Conclusion

Quarry bank Mill is a historic and wonderful place to visit for people of all ages.
It will educate every one whilst entertaining the young.
It is worth the time and money to walk around the Mill, to understand how people used to work in some terrible conditions.
Then you should wonder around the Apprentice house, listening to the story of how thirty to forty children would have to sleep in a cramped loft space, feeding on nothing but a slice of porridge and a few vegetables, then having to work all day long in the heat of the Mill.
The tour guides bring the past to life, making you realise just how easy your life is today.....

If you do go on the apprentice house tour take a handkerchief, you may need it.

Summary: A brief look at the past