So, did
you take advantage of the free weekend at many National Trust properties?
We did!
We went to Quarry Bank Mill at Styal. We've passed the brown signs pointing to Styal every time we go to Manchester Airport, but had never investigated further.
The Mill shows the journey of cotton manufacture from hand spinning in cottages .....
to full mechanisation during Britain's Industrial Revolution in the 18th Century and beyond. We discovered that this place didn't fully close until 1959. That's not so long ago.
As always, it's a story of entrepreneurs taking advantage!
They got rich while their workers suffered miserable lives. And let's not forget Britain's glorious involvement in the slave trade!
I'll never complain about my working day again!
They say that the workers at Quarry Bank lived and worked in very good conditions, as they were housed in cottages in a pleasant valley away from the choking smoke of the industrial cities nearby.
I don't know if I'd agree, as the noise from just one of these machines was deafening.
And much of the work was done by young children. Many were orphans, but many more were sent out to work by their own families. These parents were appalled by the introduction of some form of compulsory schooling as it meant less pennies in the wage packet.
Imagine working a full day at the cotton mill, and then three hours of school in the evening! No wonder they had so many accidents. They probably couldn't their eyes open, poor little mites.
There's also the full story of the importance of of water in the cotton story, but I must admit I was suffering from serious information overload by the time we got to the huge water wheels, and steam engines.
Reading back through this, I think I've made all sound a very miserable experience, but it wasn't at all.
It really was fascinating, we learned lots of new things and it certainly made us think! We enjoyed the weaving demonstrations ..... and a very fine meal in the restaurant! The only downside was that we couldn't get a ticket for the Apprentice House tour .... too many people taking advantage of the free day got there before us! Beyond the mill buildings there's also lots of good walks in the river valley and gardens, but we didn't linger today, as rain was threatening.
So, many thanks National Trust! We had a lovely day for the price of a lunch!
(I was actually so inspired, I joined up and became a member today. Be warned! There will be more than a few National Trust posts coming up in the next year, as I need to get my money's worth!)
I love Styal did you go to the apprentice house? That's lovely too.
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Noooo, I didn't know there was a free weekend, bother!!! Love this post, what an INTERESTING place to visit- it reminds me of teaching about the Victorians to Year 5 when we did a day in the life of a factory child! Oh and thank you for following me, how kind!!! It's lovely you are back again!x
ReplyDeleteWe went to Quarry Bank last year. It's a fascinating place, isn't it? My maternal ancestors were mill workers in the wool trade on the other side of the Pennines, so I found it riveting.
ReplyDeleteI used to be an NT member but gave it up a couple of years ago because I found I wasn't getting full use of it (I'd exhausted the local sites). Maybe I'll go back to it in a year or so. There's certainly a lot to see. Enjoy your new membership!
We used to visit Quarry Bank Mill a lot when the kids were little as they used to like getting dressed up in the Apprentice House. It is really interesting and gives a good picture of what life was like for the poor in Victorian times, but as you say, they were better off than the ones in the cities. Lovely photos Kathy. xx
ReplyDeleteIt is a most interesting place! As you say the noise from just one of those machines was almost unbearable to our ears so what must it have been like when all the machines in there were working - the workers must soon have had hearing problems. The apprentice house is fascinating as is the garden up the slope at the back of the mill I'm sure you will go back again now you are a member:)
ReplyDeleteMany moons ago, in my other life as a nurse back in the late 80's), I used to work not far from Quarry Bank Mill. Being young and unappreciative of what was on our doorstep, I think I only visited it once when my parents were visiting! We did however make the most of its surrounding countryside where we could walk and picnic without paying the entrance fee- Oh so cheeky I know! I have been back a couple of times since and I now love visiting NT properties. Oh how we change!
ReplyDeleteYou are so lucky to have the National Trust properties! I have been to a number of them when visiting in Britain, and have enjoyed them immensely. It sounds like you picked a great one for the free day. I'm sure you have watched the movie North and South (or read the book). It takes place in a town that has a cotton mill. I love that story!
ReplyDeleteIt's a shame you didn't get into the Apprentices House because it is very interesting.Our granddaughters loved that bit but were fascinated by the whole of Styal.Did you visit the gardens because because they are well worth a look.Now you have joined you can keep going back!We are NT members and really use it well.It's the same with being Friends of Ness Gardens.You can just pop in for half an hour.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your photos, it was all very interesting.
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