A day out in the mills of Lancashire. Our coach tour took us from Blackpool to East Lancashire: Helmshore Mill near Rawtenstall and Queen Street Mill at Harle Syke in Burnley to visit the former cotton mills now being operated as museums by Lancashire County Council.
Our group outside Helmshore Mill. The multi-storey mill has full size cotton and wool factory equipment in two mills set out as it was and with additional displays, such as Arkwright’s Water Frame and spinning wheels, plus a waterwheel and an attractive stone former railway bridge adjoining the factory.
Soon some of our group were weaving, warping and carding on looms and mules ready for a shift at 7.30am in the morning, in a different life.
Lunch makes you jolly. Both mills have cafes.
Queen Street Mill weaving shed with dozens of looms and the belts powered by a large steam engine with a tall factory chimney. Quite a sight and very noisy when in operation.
These are impressive museums that were operating up to the 1980s and now mark the significance of the textile industry to the development of the region. The processing machinery looks complex and it tended to be built locally.