Quarry Bank is one of Britain's greatest industrial heritage sites, showing how a complete industrial community lived. Here you can discover the story of mill workers, mill owners and how the Industrial Revolution changed our world forever. The National Trust site in Wilmslow is a beautiful and fascinating place to visit as a family. With beautiful gardens, a mill to explore, a children's playground, cafe and extra events on through out the year.
We visit Quarry Bank a few times a year with our National Trust membership. With plenty of special events Quarry Bank put on through out the year there is always something new and exciting to see and do there. With the gardens changing through the seasons it's a beautiful place to spend a day exploring. Also on a mixed weather day you can hide in the Mill if the weather turns wet or cold.
Top Info
🏠Industrial heritage site
🌹Gardens
🏚️Apprentice House
🏡Worker Cottage Tours
🥟Restaurant
🍰Cafe
🐕Dogs allowed in outside areas
🍦Ice Cream Parlour
🎁Gift Shop
📖Second Hand Book Shop
🚗Free Car Park
💰Free Entry for National Trust Members
🗺️Styal, Cheshire, SK9 4HP
The Gardens
On our visits, we usually start at the top of the garden, as this is only a short walk from reception. We take a lovely stroll through the pretty gardens, pop into the garden shop and then follow the winding path down to the river Bollin and over the bridge which leads you to the historic and stunning building of Styal Mill. We always pop into the beautiful restored glasshouse and the girls always have to do some cartwheels on the lawn. In the restored glasshouse and kitchen garden, you can see the array of exotic fruits and vegetables that were grown for the wealthy Gregs' table. The Greg Family are who built and owned the Mill.
There is the garden cafe in the upper gardens too. which has inside seating but also a fabulous outside area to enjoy your food and drinks while enjoying your surroundings.
Quarry Bank House
You can explore the domestic life of the mill-owning Greg family in their home, Quarry Bank House. Samuel Greg and his wife lived in this elegant house with their children. We have never been in the house and i dint actually know this was another place to explore at Quarry Bank until i started writing this review so it is definitely a reason for another visit.
Inside the Mill
Explore the huge cotton mill sat within the heart of Quarry Bank. It is one of the largest cotton mills to exist. You can walk around the mill watching the historic machinery in action as it still produces cotton today which used to make items sold in the gift shop. Watch out though as the machines can be very noisy and even make the building vibrate. And that is with only a couple of machines working. It is amazing to think what it would have been like with 20plus machines going all day long!
My girls (aged 9 &12) always enjoy the mill, I sometimes worry they will be bored as so much to read but every time we venture inside they seem to pick up on more and more information, they remember what we discussed and found out last time and they decide to read a new information board adding to their knowledge. This time they really focused on how the water wheel works and how it was a horrid job to have working in the Mill but back then no one knew any different. We always end up chatting about living and working in those times and it really gives us a chance to discuss our feelings and thoughts about how hard it would have been. The staff are fantastic and so knowledgeable. They always explain how the machines work in great detail and passion. They interact with my girls and encourage them to think about the fact they would have been working in the mill already even at their ages. With the stories and the machines chugging away you can really imaging how it would be.
Apprentice house.
Child workers lived in the Apprentice House, often sent from workhouses far away. They laboured for long hours in the Mill, before returning to chores including gardening and sewing. Up to 90 children were housed here, working 10-hour days in the mill.
Inside you can discover how the children lived, where they slept, what they ate, what care they received, and hear the stories of Margaret Magin and Thomas Priestly.
When you arrive at Visitor Reception you can book onto a tour of the Apprentice House and they last 45 minutes.
Styal Village
Stroll to Styal village to see how many of the other workers lived. In the village hub, a permanent exhibition explores the living conditions of the workers compared to life in the center of Manchester. A tour of a two-up-two-down worker's cottage offers an insight into more than 150 years of history and invites you to compare your life to those of the workers.
Please ask at Visitor Reception for more details and to book on to a tour.
Walks around Styal
On the estate there are acres of woodland to explore. Follow the meandering path of the river Bollin and go deep into the woodland with an array of steps and routes.
To read about a walk we did around Styal Village and the woodland click here.
Playground
There is a small children's play area for littles ones to enjoy just by the Mill, with some outdoor seating for picnics.
Places to get Food
There are a number of places to get food. Situated in the historic site of the original Weaving Shed - The Weaving Shed Restaurant offers a selection of hot meals, cakes and drinks. Alternatively you can head to the garden café to enjoy the surroundings with a light lunch or a slice of cake. At the Stables Ice Cream Parlour you can treat yourself to an ice cream.
Extra Activities and Events
Throughout the year Quarry Bank put on lots of extra events on. Each school holiday there is usually a new trail on. Over the summer garden games or an obstacle course is on the grass in front of the mill. Their Christmas events are getting better each year. Meeting Father Christmas at quarry Bank usually sells out quickly as does their Christmas Light trail.
During school holidays there are extra activities put on around the mill and gardens.
Easter: There is the classic National Trust Easter Egg Hunt
Summer: Various Trails and 50 things to do before your 11 3/4 challenge
Autumn: A pumpkin trail
Christmas: "Meet Father Christmas" experiences and theatre shows
Opening Times
Summer 17th Feb - 3rd Nov 10.30am - 5pm
Winter 4th Nov - 14th Feb 10.30 - 2pm
Accessibility
As with a lot of National Trust properties they try to make it so the property and ground is accessible by all. They offer all these to help make that so.
Blue Badge Parking. Place to Change toilet facility. Mill lift for wheelchair users. Shuttle buggy service. Please note there are some steep paths within the site.
Admission Prices 2024
Free entry for National Trust members. Free entry for under 5's.
Admission prices include access to the Mill, Apprentice House, Quarry Bank House, upper and lower gardens, including the cafe, unless otherwise stated.
Ticket Standard
Adult £22.00
Child £11.00
Family £55.00
1 adult, 3 children £33.00
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