SITES IN HEBDEN BRIDGE
Colden Valley Nature Reserve
This steep sided, wooded valley runs from Mytholm to Jack Bridge, with the skeletons of mills and chimneys peering above the trees. On Colden Water itself can be seen millraces, weirs, dippers and brown.
Innovation Café
A working water wheel runs in the café, although not as yet powering anything.
St George’s Square
Hebden Bridge
Heptonstall School Museum
With the interior of a fustian cottage and displays of other local industries such as clog making. The museum also illustrates the domestic life of the villagers.
Church Yard Bottom
Heptonstall
Hebden Bridge
HX7 7PL
Tel: 01422 842738 (during opening hours)
01422 843831 (outside opening hours)
museums-arts@calderdale.gov.uk
Gibson Mill
An old textile mil which has been brought back into use as a visitor centre with a modern micro hydro system. The Mill offers visitors ‘Hands-on’ exhibitions of the industrial past of the Mill, the social heritage of the local people, the green technology that powers the building and the natural beauty of Hardcastle Crags.
Estate Office
Hollin Hall
Crimsworth Dean
Hebden Bridge
West Yorkshire
HX7 7AP
Tel: 01422 844518
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visits/w-findaplace/w-hardcastlecrags.htm
THE NORTH WEST
Helmshore Mills Textile Museum
Two of Lancashire's original textile mills: Higher Mill and Whitaker’s Mill which together, are Helmshore Mills Textile Museum.
The Museum has a water wheel, and a changing programme of exhibitions, events and activities including demonstrations, talks, workshops and children's holiday activities.
Holcombe Road,
Helmshore
Rossendale
BB4 4NP
Tel: 01706 226459
www.lancashire.gov.uk/education/museums/helmshore
Heron Corn Mill
One of the few working mills in the area. A visitor attraction, the fourteen-foor high water wheel powers all the machinery. A fish ladder passes through the natural cave below the force and is frequently used by salmon and sea trout.
School parties are encouraged.
Mill Lane
Beetham
Nr. Milnthorpe, Cumbria
LA7 7PQ
www.heronmill.org
THE NORTH EAST
Shepherd Wheel
Closed at moment because of flooding
The two water-powered grinding workshops at Shepherd Wheel are an excellent example of the rural single process industrial works built all along Sheffield's rivers. In 1865 the Children's Employment Commission included Shepherd Wheel as an example of unhealthy and dangerous working conditions typical of the small water-powered workshops along Sheffield's rivers.
The site is open all year round to pre-booked groups.
Kelham Island Museum
Alma Street
(off Corporation Street)
Sheffield
S3 8RY
Tel: 0114 2722106
Fax: 0114 2757847
www.simt.co.uk
Abbeydale Industrial Hamlet
This is a unique eighteenth century industrial works. Originally called Abbeydale Works, it was one of the largest water-powered sites on the River Sheaf. The main products of the works were agricultural scythes, but other edge tools were made too, such as grass hooks and hay knives. At the Hamlet, you can see water wheels, tilt hammers, a grinding hull and the only intact crucible steel furnace surviving in the world today.
Abbeydale Industrial Hamlet
Abbeydale Road South
Sheffield
S7 2QW
Tel: 0114 2367731
www.simt.co.uk/abbeydale
Thwaites Mills, Leeds
Thwaite Mill Museum is a fully restored working water-powered mill located two miles outside of Leeds city-centre. The mill is one of the last remaining examples of a water-powered mill in Britain.
Visits to the mill buildings are tour-led and are booked in advance of arrival. The tour includes a demonstration of water powered engineering machines and an optional video presentation.
Thwaite Mills
Watermill Thwaite Lane
Stourton
Leeds
LS10 1RP
Tel. 0113 276 2887
www.leeds.gov.uk/page.aspx?egmsIdentifier=A1CA27884AF8613C80256E1B00560F5E
Killhope Lead Mining Museum
Working water wheel and events and activities at this visitor centre.
Near Cowshill
Upper Weardale
County Durham
DL13 1AR
Tel: 01388 537505
www.durham.gov.uk/killhope/usp.nsf/pws/killhope+-+Kids
Fountains Abbey
Offer some activities for schools.
Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal Water Garden
Ripon Nr Harrogate
North Yorkshire
HG4 3DY
Tel: 01765 608888
www.fountainsabbey.org.uk
CHESHIRE
Quarry Bank Mill
A National Trust property, the mill has galleries devoted to water and steam power, with hands-on displays and exhibits, an 1830s Beam Engine and a Horizontal Steam Engine which steam daily.
The Apprentice House, first built in 1790, could house up to 100 children. By 1800 there were 90 children living at the House, 60 girls and 30 boys. They represented 50% of the total workforce at the Mill at that time. The majority were aged between 10 years and 12 years and were contracted to work for a period of 7 years.
Quarry Bank Road
Styal
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 4LA
Tel: 01625 527468
www.quarrybankmill.org.uk
Bunbury Mill
School and Party visits throughout the year by arrangement with the Warden. Mill Tour visits for schools are free of charge, including use of a purpose built classroom adjacent to the Mill. Today the Mill is able to demonstrate its working machinery by producing wholemeal flour and oatmeal made from locally grown milling grain.
Bunbury Mill
Mill Lane
Bunbury
Cheshire
CW6 9PP
Tel: 01829 261422
Stretton Watermill
A working mill in beautiful rural Cheshire - well preserved with a demonstration water-powered corn mill.
Mill Lane
Stretton (near Farndon)
SY14 7JA
Tel 01606 41331
www.strettonwatermill.org.uk
MIDLANDS
Brindley Water Mill
The Brindley Mill Preservation Trust maintains and operates a restored water-powered corn-mill built by James Brindley.
The mill houses a small museum dedicated to Brindley's life and achievements.
Brindley Mill
Mill Street
Leek
Staffordshire
ST13 8HA
Tel: 01538 360900
www.brindleymill.net
Daniel’s Mill
A working water mill with a 38 ft. cast iron waterwheel producing whole meal flour traditionally. Family owned for 200 years. Guided tours are available for all visitors. There is also an exhibition of old country tools and domestic bygones.
Schools are welcome by prior appointment throughout the year.
Eardington
Bridgnorth
Shropshire
WV16 5JL
Tel: 01746 762753
Chedderton Flint Mill
New information panels designed for use in conjunction with educational material on many subjects including water power.
Briton House
Chase Lane
Tittensor
Stoke-on-Trent
ST12 9HH
Tel: 01782 372561
www.people.ex.ac.uk/akoutram/cheddleton-mill
New Hall Mill
New Hall Mill, a Grade 2 listed building, is one of only two water mills still surviving in the Birmingham area.
The Mill is only open to the general public on specific Open Days, or by prior arrangement. It is now restored to working condition, with an external overshot waterwheel providing power for the two pairs of millstones.
New Hall Water Mill Preservation Trust
c/o Rubery Owen Holdings Ltd
Darlaston PO Box 10
Wednesbury
West Midlands
WS10 8JD
Tel: 0121 526 3131
www.newhallmill.org.uk
Sarehole Mill
The 200-year-old mill at Sarehole is one of only two surviving watermills in Birmingham. First built as a corn-grinding mill, it has a water wheel and mill pool, along with a year-round programme of activities and temporary exhibitions.
Cole Bank Road
Hall Green
Birmingham
B13 0BD
Tel: 0121 777 6612
www.bmag.org.uk
Churchill Forge Mill
Churchill forge water mill, one of the last working water powered forges in Britain, is now being restored as a working museum.
The forge is opened to the public at selected days through the summer when visitors can see the water wheels turning and machinery being driven.
Mrs Pauline Hayward
Churchill Forge
Churchill
Worcestershire
DY10 3LX
Tel: 01562 700476
www.churchillforge.org.uk
THE SOUTH EAST
Mapledurham Mill
The Mill at Mapledurham is the only mill on the Thames still working and producing flour. The watermill is perhaps best known for its starring role in the 1976 film 'The Eagle Has Landed', where the mill leat is the scene of the dramatic rescue of a local girl by a German paratrooper that results in the unmasking and ultimate failure of the of the same name.
Mapledurham Estate
The Estate Office
Mapledurham
Reading
RG4 7TR
Tel: 0118 972 3350
e-mail: enquiries@mapledurham.co.uk
Ford End Watermill
Buckinghamshire's only working Watermill with original machinery restored by volunteers, and now maintained and run by Ford End Watermill Society. Stoneground wholemeal flour is on sale during milling demonstrations.
Schools and other parties are very welcome.
Ivinghoe
Buckinghamshire
Tel: 01442 825421
www.fordendwatermill.co.uk
DEVON & SOMERSET
Morwellham Quay
An open-air museum and resource for educational groups. The museum encompasses the restored 19th century village, the docks and quays (complete with restored ships), the George and Charlotte copper mine, a Victorian farm and the gardens and nature reserve. A visit can be useful for teaching many aspects of the curriculum.
Near Tavistock
Devon
PL19 8JL
Tel: 01822-832766
www.morwellham-quay.co.uk
Coldharbour Mill
Coldharbour Mill has an established and award winning education programme.
This 200 year old spinning mill is dedicated to providing educational resources to support the curriculum needs of Primary & Secondary schools.
Also produces high quality worsted knitting yarn.
Uffculme
Devon
Tel 01884 840960
www.coldharbourmill.org.uk
Burcott Mill
An historic water mill and guest house, Burcott Mill is a working water-powered flour mill.
Wookey
Wells
Somerset
BA5 1NJ
Tel: 01749 673118
www.burcottmill.com
Clapton Mill
A Grade 2* listed corn mill with four pairs of stones and a 21ft diameter water wheel with a hydroelectric turbine.
Craig & Gale Taylor
Clapton Mill
Clapton
Crewkerne
Somerset
TA18 8PU
Tel: 01460 72142
www.claptonmill.co.uk
Gants Mil
Farmhouse bed and breakfast also open for garde and mill visits. Look around the old mill, see the old machinery in action, and the new scheme for generating electricity.
Alison & Brian Shingler
Gants Mill
Bruton
Somerset
BA10 0DB
Tel: 01749-812393
Website: www. gantsmill.co.uk
Gayle Mill
Dating from 1784-5, this Grade 2 listed Gayle Mill is the oldest structurally unaltered cotton mill in existence. In 1878 it was converted to a sawmill, and when the ongoing restoration is complete the mill will produce a range of high quality wood products, offer training and education in woodworking and enable visitors to see the original Victorian woodworking machinery and water turbines in action.
Tel: 01969 667662
www.friendsofgaylemill.org.uk
WALES
Felin Cochwillan
A privately owned ex-estate watermill in North Wales, it was built 200 years ago as a fulling mill and later converted to grind corn, barley and oats.
Most of its machinery remains including the water wheel, mill stones, and drying kiln. During restoration visitors are welcome by appointment only.
Felin Cochwillan
Tal-y-bont
Bangor
Gwynedd
North Wales
LL57 3YB
www.felincochwillan.co.uk
The Gower Heritage Centre
A visitor attraction and rural life museum based around a working 12th century water-mill with fun and activities for all the family. The 12th century water powered corn and saw mill was renovated, and experienced crafts people took up residence on site. Today the centre is recognised as a vibrant crafts and rural life museum.
Gower Heritage Centre
Parkmill
Gower
Swansea
SA3 2EH
Wales
Tel:01792 371206
www.gowerheritagecentre.co.uk
SCOTLAND
Birse Community Trust
The Trust owns and manages the unique nineteenth century water powered wood-working mills that still survive and continue to operate in Finzean.
The Old School
Finzean
Banchory
AB31 6NY
Tel: 01330 850200
email: BCToffice@birsecommunitytrust.org.uk
ISLE OF MAN
The Great Laxey Wheel
The wheel is now the largest surviving one of its kind in the world. Built in 1854 to pump water from the mine, it is 22m (77.5 feet) in diameter.
Educational visits are free to Manx schools and for other educational groups there are group admission charges to the heritage sites, with free admission to certain properties.
A wide range of audio-visual equipment is available for education, together with a collection of associated materials and workshops.
The website also has a good interactive game.
Manx National Heritage
Douglas
IM1 3LY
Tel: 01624 648000
www.gov.im/mnh/heritage/museums/laxeywheel.xml
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