Quarry Bank

About

When Samuel Greg built Quarry Bank at the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, he founded not only a cotton mill but a whole community.  Visitors to this National Trust property can gain a fascinating insight to life at this pivotal time in history.

The mill itself, provides a unique experience. The machine floors attack all the senses, with the smell of oil, grease and cotton. The clattering sounds and sights of the working machines, still processing cotton, bring the history of the people and place alive.  In the Apprentice House, discover how difficult life was for a pauper child worker, as costumed guides take you on a tour.

In the gardens, enjoy the quiet pleasure to be found in a stroll by the river, where beautiful flowers bloom along the path side.  For those wanting to go walking, the extensive woodland offers everything from a short amble to a longer hike.

Cloth produced by the mill's machines is for sale in the on-site shop and delicious food is available in the café.

Quarry Bank is one of Britain's greatest industrial heritage sites, showing how a complete industrial community lived.  Here you can discover the story of mill workers, entrepreneurs and how the Industrial Revolution changed the world.

Watch hand spinners at work, experience the clatter of machinery and the hiss of steam engines and marvel at the powerful waterwheel.

Take the kids back in time to an era when children were to be seen and not heard by visiting the evocative Apprentice House, which housed the child labourers who worked in the mill.

Quarry Bank also has delightful gardens and in 2016, the major Heritage Lottery-funded project gives the opportunity to witness conservation in action as the glasshouse and kitchen garden are restored.

This unique 18th century garden contains fine displays of rhododendron and other spring blooms and has delightful vistas, with the River Bollin running through the valley.

Riverside walks, meandering paths and raised beds are some of the features that have been rediscovered during restoration work, reflecting the ‘picturesque’ style of the original design.

Quarry Bank's archive provided the inspiration for Channel 4's popular drama, The Mill. The series was a blend of fact and fiction, inspired by the people and stories of Quarry Bank’s history.  The programme followed the lives of the mill owners, mill workers and apprentices as they continue to navigate their way through a time of rapid change

Situated in the historic site of the original Weaving Shed, built in the 1830s, the Mill Café now offers you a place to relax and enjoy a delicious meal after exploring all that Quarry Bank has to offer. Treat yourself to the daily delicious dishes, the café serves fresh, seasonal food. Everything from hot dishes to sandwiches and soup as well as a scrumptious range of homemade cakes.

In a rush? On busy days the Pantry serves sandwiches, drinks and ice cream to go.The café serves hot food between 12pm and 2.30pm.