Quarry bank is closed today wednesday due to flooding. Exploring quarry bank mill and why it got me thinking. This is a study of an important family business, set firmly within the wider context of english society during the period of industrialisation. Quarry bank is the most complete and least altered factory colony of the industrial revolution. Behind the mill, the beating heart of quarry bank, lies a room which is hidden from. The first from 17841911, and the second from 19111925. Its essential characteristic was an unprecedented and sustained increase in the rate of growth of manufacturing and its supporting trades and services. It is presented as fiction yet it reads as a historical account of these two young.
Edward was the third owner of quarry bank mill and had a great many hobbies including collecting fossils and bird eggs, as well as hunting and shooting. Focusing on the lives of the apprentices at quarry bank mill, david hansons book uses a wealth of firstperson source material including letters, diaries, mill records, to tell the stories of the children who lived and worked at quarry bank throughout the nineteenth century. But hidden within the collection lies the workers library, a set of hundreds of books which were enjoyed by the mill workers and residents of styal village in the early twentieth century. One of our most useful sources of information that we have here at quarry bank is the mill memorandum, which comes in two volumes and is a compilation of the information taken from the day books. Read our insiders guide to the best winter walks in quarry bank mill, as recommended by telegraph travel. Established in 1784, quarry bank was home to a thriving community at a defining moment in history. True stories from quarry bank, by david hanson, was written to accompany the channel 4 series, the mill, which first screened as two series in 20 and 2014. Quarry bank mill was built in 1784 on the banks of the river bollin near styal. Travel back in time to the industrial revolution at the quarry bank mill. Samuel greg had a number of different partners in the quarry bank mill business, including peter ewart, an engineer. Video of the splendid quarry bank mill in cheshire.
The true story behind quarry bank mill the inspiration for the. Quarry bank mill is a first generation water powered cotton mill built in 1784, see the waterwheel, steam engines and cotton machinery working daily. Their starting point was in the pleasant cheshire countryside, where they were apprenticed to the cotton mill built by samuel greg. It offers bright, airy rooms with free wifi and ensuite shower rooms. The route passes the millpond, crosses herons pool bridge and continues on. Discover the story of power at quarry bank in this digital exhibition.
Robert alexander greg robert had a varied career as the owner of quarry bank mill, as a soldier in the first world war and later as a magistrate. Guided tours of the apprentice house show what life was like for the pauper children who worked in the mill. Quarry bank mill, on the river bollin in the village of styal, was founded by samuel greg in 1784 for the spinning of cotton and, by the time of his retirement in 1832, it was the largest cotton spinning business in the uk. Stay on the b5166 past styal village and youll see the signposts to quarry bank mill.
By car follow signs for manchester airport, then take the b5166 to cheadle. Contentsshow water mill the mill was founded by samuel greg in 1784 in the village of styal on the river bollin. Channel 4 produced a docudrama, the mill, inspired by the history of quarry bank mill. Literary life at quarry bank tends to be associated with the millowning greg family. Nice piece of history in this book for any history lovers. An investigation into quarry bank mill addressing three questions regarding. Nothing can replace a visit to a working museum to fully understand life in an early industrial revolution cotton mill. Getting to quarry bank mill quarry bank mill is about ten miles south of manchester city and you can get there by car, train, bus or taxi. Historical guide to the apprentice house, quarry bank. Discovering the workers library at quarry bank national trust. To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.
List of men at styal about the year 1860 compiled from memory by thomas tongue english geneologist, 17 1922 styal cottages rent book, 184450. Joseph sefton through the succeeding three decades after their flight from styal to london. The industrial revolution originated in england in the late 18th century and wrought great change across the world. Bank mill, styal, from 1978 to 1989 and author of a newly published book. Quarry bank mill quarry bank road, styal sk9 4la england. Built i n 1784, the mill is recorded in the national heritage list for england as a designated grade ii listed building, and inspired the 20 televisi on serie s the mill.
A counterattraction to the public house discovering the. Here, the story of hannahs remarkable life is told for the first time. The book reveals the real lives of the main characters, showing how close to the truth the dramatisation is. Quarry bank mill, cheshire east 1237687 historic england. Quarry bank is one of britains greatest industrial heritage sites and the inspiration for channel 4s the mill. A background on quarry bank mill from the national trust. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The industrial revolution of the late 18th centu ry transformed britain and helped create our modern world. Quarry bank mill and styal estate national trust culture24. Our main duties are to preserve government records and to set standards in information management and reuse. In the mill and garden shops, youll find a range of gifts, homeware and garden products. In 1783 he took over the business, which continued as samuel greg and co. One of the most important mills on the bollin was quarry bank mill at styal erected in 1784 by mr.
Situated in the grounds of quarry bank on the national trusts styal estate this walk follows the river from the mill to the point at which the rivers dean and bollin combine at twinnies bridge. Quarry bank house in styal, c national trust and andrew butler. The village is dominated by quarry bank mill and much of its housing is the mill s estate. The way he expressed his shock and trauma was simply to say that he missed his. Quarry bank mill in cheshire, england, is one of the best preserved textile mills of the industrial revolution and is now a museum of the cotton industry. Throughout quarry banks history, the greg family were keen to promote the. Hannah greg, mistress of quarry bank mill by david sekers isbn. Find expert advice on historic routes and scenic paths through the country. This however, is the total opposite from quarry bank mill. The mill continued weaving until 1959, when it was closed. It has been designated by english heritage as a grade ii listed building. Looking for hotels near quarry bank mill and styal estate. The quarry bank runaways in the early 19th century, when it was the policy of many of the poorhouses and workhouses to deter paupers from applying by making the conditions inside harsh and unpleasant, two boys set out on a journey to hackney workhouse in london. This source is reliable because it is a report from the commission.
His edition of the diary of hannah lightbody 17869 was published as a supplement to the journal of enlightenment and dissent in 2008. The fact that inspired the fiction quarry bank revealed. Elizabeth arrived at quarry bank with her sister ann and was apprenticed in 1803 aged only 5. The history of power at quarry bank encompasses the harnessing of a mighty river, a series of steam engines, a leap of faith in water turbines and, above all, the hard work of skilled labourers. The mill launch at quarry bank mill manchester evening news. Quarry bank mill also kno wn as styal mill in styal, cheshire, england, is one of the best preserved tex tile mills of the industrial revolution and is now a museum of the cotton industry. Quarry bank mill was one of the few to employ a doctor, and under his care priestley recovered within six weeks. This house is where children from aged nine lived and worked. Robert introduced weaving to quarry bank mill in 1838, and continued to expand the mill with a new steam engines and boiler houses, a cloth warehouse, the gas retort house and the weaving sheds. It was water powered originally by an iron wheel built between 1816 and 1820 by thomas hewes. Heatherlea guest house is just a miles walk from wilmslow town centre and rail station.
Quarry bank mill was built in 1784 on the banks of the river bollin near styal in cheshire. The historic cotton mill founded by the greg family is still a working mill and brings the early industrial revolution to life, while the picturesque gardens overflow with an atmosphere of beauty and tranquility. The historical novels about the quarry bank apprentices and their life stories. It has got so much history making you realise how hard those. Buy quarry bank mill and styal estate, cheshire by national trust isbn. Quarry bank mill in styal, cheshire, england, is one of the best preserved textile mills of the. River dean at wilmslow and quarry bank hit by flooding. If youre looking for something truly terrifying to do this halloween then make sure you book tickets to quarry bank mill s longrunning, and much loved, spooky tours. Joseph and thomas are both indentured apprentices to quarry bank mill in the early 19th. Its essential characteristic was an unprecedented and sustained increase in the rate of growth of. There were about 60 girls and 30 boys, each viewed as an apprentice and had to stay for at least 10 years, or then continued working as an adult. He has been writing about quarry bank, styal since 1978, specialising in the famous greg family. She appeared in peter hollands treatment book, aged 10, with what seems to have been a sore neck.
Robert retired in 1870, and passed the management of quarry bank mill to his son, edward hyde greg. Quarry bank mill is steeped in over 200 years of fascinating history and has its own scary stories to tell, including ghastly accidents, runaway children, and mysterious. In quarry bank mill, there was no physical assault done to harm the child in anyway. Quarry bank mill was set dressed so it appeared as it did in the 1830s. I also found another source adapted from modern history book. Samuel greg, which started off spinning and changed completely to weaving in 1896. Quarry bank mill styal the quarry bank mill was built in 1784 by samuel greg in the village of styal south of the manchester city centre. The national archives is the uk governments official archive. Hear tales from styal village and other oral histories from the quarry bank. Quarry bank styal 2020 all you need to know before you. Literary life at quarry bank tends to be associated with the mill owning greg family.
Visited styal just a couple of days before the corona virus forced lockdown so the house and mill were closed but there were beautiful walks around the gardens, outside the mill and the reservoir and then into the preserved part of styal village which was absolutely beautiful. Historical guide to styal village and oak cottages. Exploring quarry bank mill and why it got me thinking quarry bank mill used to be a cotton mill during the industrial revolution. Oozing with heritage, you can experience the sounds and smells of steam and waterpowered engines, explore the cotton mill to learn about spinning, weaving, the production of material, and the history of the textile industry, tour the apprentice house for a glimpse into the lives of pauper children, stroll the. I had not watched the tv show prior to reading the book. For a unique souvenir, make sure you pick up a quarry bank glass cloth, which has been woven on heritage looms in the mill. Gang are currently on route to close styal road, wilmslow due to the river dean banks bursting, please avoid the area. We enjoyed a fascinating visit to quarry bank mill at styal, in cheshire south of manchester. Construction of quarry bank mill, styal, cheshire, began in 1783 and was completed by 1784. A brief history of quarry bank quarry bank revealed. Styal is a commuter village, with access to manchester.
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