Helmshore Mills Textile Museum
| Published: 1st April 2008 22:39 |
Helmshore Mills Textile Museum has re-opened following an extensive refurbishment.
Helmshore Mills Textile Museum offers adults and children alike an interesting opportunity to gain an insight into life in the mills during a bygone era.
Higher Mill (built 1789) and Whitaker's Mill (built in the 1860s following the destruction of the original mill by a fire in the 1820s) together form Helmshore Mills Textile Museum and present an opportunity to learn more about the way in which cotton was made and the conditions and dangers that workers (often children) had to endure throughout the ages.
Arkwright's Water Frame
Revolutions Gallery takes you on a journey through the history of cotton production, the different materials used and gives an insight into the role Lancashire played in the Industrial Revolution.
You have the chance to learn about how cotton was recycled - as far back as 1925 recycled cotton was used to produce sheets and tea towels.
The talks held within the museum are well worth listening to, and help to evoke images of the mills during their working life, whilst also giving you the chance to see the machinery in action as, unbeknown to many, despite formal cotton production finishing in 1978, the mills still produce cotton to this day. This is made into tea towels at Queen Street Mill, Burnley and transported back to Helmshore for sale in the museum's foyer.
Spinning MulesLet yourself be transported to back to a time when children as young as nine years old were employed in the mills, and listen as the speaker describes the difficult and dangerous work they carried out and the hot and noisy conditions they worked in.
Helmshore Mills Textile Museum offers an education room for school visits, where children have the chance to watch demonstrations of early forms of spinning, and even have a go themselves.
Products for sale manufactured from cotton produced at Helmshore Mills Textile Museum To bring your visit to a close, you can relax over a snack and a drink in the museum's cafe.
Entry to the museum costs £4 for adults, £3 for concessions and accompanied children visit free of charge. You are advised to allow two hours for your visit to truly benefit from all that the museum has to offer.
Until 31st October 2008 the museum will be open 7 days a week from 12.00noon - 4.00pm Monday to Friday and 12.00noon - 5.00pm Saturday and Sunday.
Group tours can be arranged by contacting the museum on 01706 226459.
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