Helmshore Mills Textile Museum

What was it like to work in a mill? Examine working conditions and discover a range of jobs as you learn how cotton is turned into yarn in a cotton condenser spinning mill. Your journey will begin in the intriguingly named ‘Devil Hole’ and end with a machinery demonstration on the spinning floor. 

Half day session for KS1 and KS2.

Take a guided walk beyond the mill gates to explore how the Industrial Revolution and the arrival of the mills changed the landscape. Then build an interactive 2D map to examine the impact of the Turner family on the local area. Pupils will also investigate the events of the power-loom riots of 1826 and the sad, sad tale of Mary Hindle.

Half day session for KS2.

Explore the changes in the spinning industry and life in a Victorian Mill Worker's home.

Take a journey through the Industrial Revolution, from the domestic woollen industry to the time when cotton was king. Follow the inventions that made it happen, and the lives of the people it affected.

An opportunity for your pupils to handle real objects from Victorian domestic and working life.

Half-day session for KS1 and KS2

Thank you for your interest in visiting this wonderful heritage site. We would be pleased to welcome you and share our enthusiasm for this very special place.

If you choose to visit us, your students would have guided content throughout the day. They would complete a round-robin of four activities:

1. Cotton Story – time on the spinning floor, including a machinery demonstration.
2. Revolution Gallery – a guided exploration of the machines that enabled the Industrial Revolution and a look at the lives of some of the key people.
3. Mill Town 1 – a guided walking tour to see the impact of the mill owner and the industrial revolution on the locality. Students engage in a short interactive drama piece about the Power Loom Riots.

NB if the weather is poor this session will be swapped for a hands-on Victorian/early 20^th century handling session focussed on work and home.

1. Mill Town 2 – an investigation using a 3D model of the developments locally. Students map out and plan an industrial settlement.

We do not provide any additional materials such as worksheets, we prefer to have students experiencing and doing!

When can I visit?  School visits are only available on a Mon, Tues or Weds.

Max. numbers approx. 80 per day

 

Timings

We would start at 10am (arrival from 9.50am) students would complete two of the four sessions in the morning.

Break for lunch approx. 12 noon – 12.30pm and then complete two sessions in the afternoon 12.30 – 2.30pm. Students will need to be supervised on the stairs and in the toilets which are on a different floor to the lunch space.

These general timings can be tweaked (except for the 10am start) to fit in with your travel plans.

 

Accompanying adults

You would need to provide enough accompanying staff to comply with your school outdoor visits policy, but also bearing in mind your total group will be subdivided and be in very different parts of the mill/village during the day.

We recommend that you provide at least two adults with the group who are on the Mill Town 1 (outdoor session.)

 

Costs for Lancashire County Council Schools / Lancashire Academies and Non-Lancashire County Council schools

• Either £6 per student (LCC school) OR £8 per student (for a Lancashire Academy or non-LCC school)
• No cost for accompanying adults

 

If you would like to make a booking please complete an enquiry form on this website. Please note: for large numbers we recommend booking at least four months in advance. Autumn 2 is particularly busy.