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Helmshore Mills Textile Museum

Bringing the Spinning Industry to Life

Nestling side by side in the stunning Rossendale Valley are two of Lancashire's original textile mills: Higher Mill and Whitaker’s Mill which, together, form Helmshore Mills Textile Museum. A great British ancient momument and powerhouse. Today Helmshore marks the birthplace of an Industrial Revolution that inspired the world.

Discover Lancashire’s textile industry story, a story built upon the back of great Lancastrian inventors James Hargreaves, Richard Arkwright and Samuel Crompton. View their inventions such as Arkwright’s Water Frame from the 1780s, today recognised as national and international treasures.

Other museum highlights

• Trace how cloth production, first wool, then cotton, become Lancashire’s main export throughout the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth centuries.
• Follow a journey to discover how raw wool and cotton were transformed into yarn ready to be woven into cloth.
• Experience the Revolution gallery were you can follow the story of Lancashire's unique role in the industrial revolution.
• Feel the grand and mighty waterwheel powering the stocks as they thump the wet woollen cloth.
• Enjoy our upgraded buildings which mean you can now explore more of the Museum. New additions include a contemporary  reception and shop area.

Museum cafe and shop

Visit our Coffee Mill Café to relax and savour the unrivalled atmosphere of this amazing building whilst savouring wholesome Lancashire food with an up-to-date twist.

Our shop offers traditional and contemporary gifts for all ages, focusing on Lancashire made crafts and products. Let us reveal local delicacies such as Reedy’s hand made jam and the hand crafted Simply Textiles range of textiles. Simply Textiles designs are exclusive to Lancashire Museums; made from yarn spun at Helmshore, and expertly woven at our sister museum Queen Street Mill Museum, at Burnley.

Activities this year

We will be continuing to improve our offer throughout 2008. A changing programme of events, activities, demonstrations, talks, workshops and children's holiday activities, will keep all the family entertained. Look out for our family fun picnic month in August 2008 to tie in with a special  year which celebrates Lancashire food and  Taste Lancashire 08 .

You may want to purchase an Xplorer ticket so you can return to discover something new about Helmshore or visit one of the our other Lancashire Museums.

Opening Hours

From Thursday 28 February to Thursday 20 March, the museum will open Thursday to Sunday
Thursday and Friday (12-4pm)
Saturday and Sunday (12-5pm)

From 20 March-31 October 2008 the museum will be open seven days a week
Monday to Friday (12-4pm)
Saturday and Sunday (12-5pm)

Open on Bank Holiday Weekends, Easter to October.

Facilities

Free car parking, coach parking, shop, café, access for disabled users, lift for disabled users, admittance to guide dogs, induction loop, baby changing facilities.

Admission Charges

Adults: £4.00 (free to Xplorer ticket holders)

Concessions: £3.00 (free to Xplorer ticket holders)

Accompanied Children: FREE

Xplorer Adult Season Ticket: £6.00

Xplorer Adult Multi-Pass: £10.00

Xplorer Family & Friends Multi-Pass: £18.00

Estimated Visiting Time: 2 hours