It must be a couple of years since we last visited Quarry Bank Mill in Styal in Cheshire. I knew that there had been lots of changes since our last visit so we decided to drive up there to take a look. Road closures and road works made getting there quite difficult but we eventually arrived to find more building work going on in the car park and entrance area.
There was a brand new reception building too.
It was all very muddy and water was standing in puddles on the new paths.
Our first call was to the Styal Village Hub where we were advised to go first in order to book a tour of the newly opened No 13 Oak Cottages, one of the houses in the village built by the Gregg family for their workers at the nearby mill.
We booked on a tour for 12 noon and wandered back along the path towards the garden as we had over an hour to wait. It's not far to walk, less than 10 minutes, from the reception to the village.
The village is a 'living village' and people have their homes in all the cottages except No 13 which has been opened for viewing by visitors after essential maintenance work.
We passed The Apprentice House along the way back but didn't go in this time. Instead we headed towards the gardens to see the new displays and rebuilt glass house and back sheds there.
Above some aspects of the new displays at the top of the garden in the back sheds of the glass house.
The original glass house was built in the 1820s to impress guests and visitors of the family's wealth. It was built in cast iron and had thousands of panes of glass.
The back houses were originally used by the gardeners to organise planting, cleaning tools, take deliveries and take care of the heating for the exotic plants in the glass house. Now there are displays on the history of the gardens and a also shop in there. Here is a link to a short film about the restoring of the glass house.
It was time to go back towards the village for our tour of the workers cottage. There was a wonderful display and film in the hub and we spent time looking at this before our guide arrived.
After our tour we walked in the now pouring rain back towards the mill for a light lunch of scones and coffee. After a wander around the shop we ventured up to the third new building which had opened since our last visit.
Quarry Bank House, built c1798 next to the mill, was the home of its owners the Gregg Family. It had only opened to the public the day before so it was a treat to be able to see inside.
I'll take you inside this house and No 13 Oak Cottages in my next post.
Interesting to see how workers actually lived.
ReplyDeleteIt is, their houses were a lot better than some of the city streets, but the routine and never ending things they had to do just to keep warm, clean and fed must have been trying at times:)
DeleteIt looks like such an interesting visit Rosie. I would love to own the chest of tiny drawers! I look forward to having a nose inside No.13 Oak cottages on my next visit here! Have a great weekend. x
ReplyDeleteWe have a similar cabinet with all Paul's fossils in it although it is wider rather than as tall as the one shown. Oak Cottages coming up soon:)
DeleteLooking forward to the tour inside the houses.
ReplyDeleteI think I may have towrite two posts as there is such a lot about each house although not much to see in either as yet:)
DeleteI too am looking forward to see inside the houses, what a great place to visit.
ReplyDeleteIt is fascinating, both houses works in progress but interesting nontheless:)
DeleteSounds a great trip despite the rain, looking forward to seeing inside. 😊
ReplyDeleteGosh it did rain whilst we were walking down from the village to the mill for lunch, there was a small wedding party too all being brought by buggy, two at a time to the reception rooms above the cafe:)
DeleteThe original glasshouses must have impressed the neighbours! It made me think when I read on the Quarry Bank Mill website about child workers sleeping there in order to look after the boilers. The recent rebuilding would have been a major undertaking. I like the quote from Samuel Greg's letter to his wife. I wonder if you can see the original writing? Looking forward to your next blog post.
ReplyDeleteYes, they had a truckle bed set up just as it would have been for the boys who had to guard the heating, I think it was a lot warmer and cleaner than it would have been all those years ago:)
DeleteWhat a great place to visit - that glasshouse is really something - I can just see how it would have impressed visitors! :) It looks as though there is so much of interest to see there and I look forward to your next post :)
ReplyDeleteIt is a fascinating place, the mill and apprentice housewere a good visit in themselves but the added bonus of the opening of the garden about four years ago plus the two houses has added extra interest to a visit:)
DeleteThey have done a lot! We will have to go and have a look too!
ReplyDeleteOh, yes do visit, there is so much to see, I think they said the mill itself would be partially closed in November as they are putting in a new lift:)
DeleteI think it's time we went back. It's a few years since we went and it looks like we might have missed a few things!
ReplyDeleteIt would be worth a return visit as there is so much more to see now:)
DeleteYou always take us to the nicest places, Rosie. I love the glass house.
ReplyDeleteAmalia
xo
Thank you, Amalia, yes the glasshouse is amazing:)
DeleteLooks like you had an interesting outing.
ReplyDeleteBlessings~
Thank you, yes it was very interesting:)
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