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Quarry Bank Mill. Development Timeline

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Quarry Bank Mill. Development Timeline Knowledge Organiser. Quarry Bank Mill - Part 2 of 2: Key Questions for Essays a) The reasons for the location of the site b) When and why people first created c) The ways in which the site has d) How the site has been used within its surroundings. the site. changed over time. throughout its history. The site of the mill is located at Styal, Samuel Greg a textile merchant and The site has developed over time. Initially Originally the site was part of the estate north of Wimslow on the River Bollin. The industrialist, was in partnership with his the site was intended for cotton spinning, of Lord Stamford including woodland and mill is located where there is a fall in the uncle Robert Hyde. Together they were later weaving was introduced. The need agricultural land and the original village river’s course provided a potential source looking to expand the business. In 1784 to house more workers meant the site provided a small amount of housing for of power. land near to Styal was purchased and a developed in two ways. Firstly the agricultural workers. During the late 18th mill, apprentice house and family house apprentice house was built to house 30 and 19th C the site was used for the textile were built. The site was chosen because it boys and 60 girls. Secondly housing at the industry and housing for workers on the provided a clean environment for workers, village of Styal expanded. There were mill site and village site expanded. The site away from the pollution of Manchester. further community developments in the was donated to the National Trust in 1939 1820’s including of a chapel 1822, school and has become a major visitor attraction. 1823 and a shop. This was under the It was as a working mill until 1959. direction of the wife of the mill owner, Hannah Greg. The type of power used by the mill has changed over time. The mill was originally powered by an iron water wheel, later mechanisation supplemented this with the introduction of a beam engine 1836 and a horizontal condensing engine 1871 as the water level in summer was too low and interrupted production. e) The diversity of activities and people f) The reasons for changes to the site and g) Significant times in the site’s past: peak activity, major developments, turning associated with the site. to the way it was used. points. The site is associated with the following Changes were made to the site to increase 1783: Mill built activities: cotton spinning and weaving, productivity, adapt to new sources of 1790: Apprentice house built development of different types of power, power and technology. In addition the 1801: Changes to water wheels education for children, non- conformist site has developed to meet the needs of 1820: Great waterwheel installed religion (Unitarian and Methodism) and the workers. The latest changes to the site 1834: Samuel Greg died basic health care support from 1778. The in 1990’s were introduced to 1847: Ten Hour Bill ended apprenticeships site is also associated with slavery as the accommodate the needs of visitors as a 1865: gas lighting introduced at the mill Greg family used profits from the textile museum. 1871: Steam engine installed industry to purchase sugar plantation in 1894: Mill concentrates on weaving rather than spinning the Dominican Republic. The role of 1939: Given to National Trust Hannah Greg is also significant as an 1959: Mill closed educated woman played a role in the 1976: Mill opened as a museum development of the site. Knowledge Organiser. Quarry Bank Mill - Part 2 of 2: Key Questions for Essays h) The significance of specific feature in the i) The importance of the whole site either j) How the physical remains can inform k) The typicality of the site based on a physical remains at the site. locally or nationally , as appropriate. artistic reconstructions and other comparison with other similar sites. interpretations of the site. th The mill is one of the best preserved late 18 The site is a World Heritage site, an The site is of a similar construction to other rural industrial sites. The level of indication of the international significance of The site has prompted a number of artistic cotton factories such as the Arkwright Mill at preservation of the apprentice house is Quarry Mill Bank. The National Trust interpretations such as paintings, portraits, Cromford, Derbyshire. The Arkwright Mill unique. The site includes the original steel ownership of the site shows the importance maps, technological diagrams and and Quarry Mill Bank site both include waterwheel and horizontal beam engine. of the site nationally as an example of early photographs. The site was used for filming examples of housing for workers and the th The village of Styal remains unspoilt and is 19 C industrial developments. The site is of a dramatic interpretation: ‘The Mill’ type of housing built and designed by mill prime example of housing for workers in now important locally as a source of tourism. (2013). owners. This demonstrates some degree of 19thc. The site is still in a relatively rural site typicality. However the level of preservation on the outskirts of Wilmslow. The physical and the unbroken use of the mill site for site is enhanced by the range of well cotton manufacturing and the apprentice preserved and documented archive material. house is unique to Quarry Mill Bank. l) What the site reveals about everyday life, m) The challenges and benefits of studying n) How the physical remains may prompt questions about the past and how historians attitudes and values in particular periods of the historical environment frame these as valid historical enquiries. history You will gain an understanding of social and Consider questions about the size and development of the site and mill, the workers living and The site reveals much about the range and economic life in industrial Britain, Britain’s working conditions, the experiences of children, the influences of the mill owners. This will diversity of working conditions in the late role in slavery, the development of the prompt you to consider the following valid historical enquires: 18th and 19th C. For example the daily life of cotton industry, the role of dissenting apprentices, mill workers, managers and philanthropic industrialists from the North Why did the Greg family develop the mill in this area? owners can be explored through the site. In West, the influence of women and the role of How and why technological and economic developments lead to expansion? addition the impact of Factory Acts and the government and associated legislation in How did government legislation affect living and working conditions? associated attitudes towards government improving living and working conditions. The What was the influence of Hannah Greg on developments at Quarry Mill Bank intervention in working conditions is challenges of this site enable you to What are the links between developments at Quarry Mill Bank slavery and Empire? illustrated. A study of the apprentice house understand the key turning points and links and early health care provision shows early to the wider world and to understand examples of philanthropic and enlightened elements of typicality. attitudes that developed in the radical dissenting atmosphere of 19th C Manchester. The site offers insight into living conditions in Victorian Britain and the development of religion, leisure activities child labour and education. .
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