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Quarry Bank Mill

Quarry Bank Mill, viewed from the cliff above the lower garden.

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. The mill was originally powered by a water wheel. During the 19th century, this was supplemented by steam engines as the water supply from the Bollin was inconsistent during the summer months.

In 1939, Quarry Bank Mill and the surrounding estate were donated to the National Trust and are open to the public. The mill is one of the best preserved textile mills of the Industrial Revolution period and now serves as a museum of the cotton industry. Commercial production at the mill continued until 1959.

In 2006, the National Trust bought and restored the lower garden. This was used by the Greg family as their private garden (Link ). Views of the river and the mill were used with the plants, flowers and trees to produce a dramatic valley garden.

Quarry Bank Mill has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade II* listed building.

Link - Quarry Bank Mill and Styal Estate (National Trust)
Link - Quarry Bank Mill (Wikipedia article with more information about the history of the mill and estate)