Helmshore Mills Textile Museum

Helmshore Mills Textile Museum

Helmshore Mills Textile Museum
5
Thursday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
About
Nestling side by side in the quiet village of Helmshore in the stunning Rossendale Valley are two original Lancashire textile mills, Higher Mill and Whitaker’s Mill, together known as Helmshore Mills Textile Museum.
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  • ajbangor58
    Bury, United Kingdom85 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A real hidden gem!
    In the way to a walk on the Grane road we just called in this fabulous place. We only expected a quick look around and maybe an explanation of some techniques. We were met with a tour including a working spinning machine by a friendly and enthusiastic member of staff. The even older woollen museum at the back was shown to us by an equally engaging lady who was a font of knowledge. Great visit tremors place, don’t miss the mill pond walk.
    Visited April 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written April 11, 2023
  • John B
    2 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Trip to working mill
    Really good place to visit on a rainy day, took our five year old granddaughter. Great to see machines working and guide was friendly and knowledgeable. Will return hopefully when the steam engine is running. Nice cafe.
    Visited July 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written July 30, 2023
  • SueB
    Lancaster, United Kingdom67 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Brilliant museum, well worth a visit.
    We visited this museum with our teenage grand-daughter and we all enjoyed it. The displays are fascinating, there is a tour of the woollen mill and also the cotton mill with all types of historic machinery. The cotton spinning machines are switched on for a short time so that visitors can see and hear them in action. There is a cafe serving soup, sandwiches and cakes. The tour guides and all the staff were very knowledgeable and keen to talk about the mills and their history. Unfortunately the mill pond was drained at the moment so that the water wheel can be restored.
    Visited August 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written August 18, 2023
  • Marie F
    95 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Simply fantastic
    Went down to get a cup of coffee and a cake in the cafe and found that part of the museum was open for educational school groups . Well what a fantastic place . Totally inspiring for adults and children and the whole story of the mills in Lancashire presented in an easily accessible way .The staff were incredibly friendly and yes the coffee and chocolate cake delicious. Would really recommend .Take your children and grandchildren along it is FABULOUS
    Visited February 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written February 23, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

5.0
5.0 of 5 bubbles176 reviews
Excellent
156
Very good
15
Average
3
Poor
2
Terrible
0

Pillsontour
Lancashire, UK352 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2021 • Friends
This is a very important part of Lancashire History and especially the village of Helmshore and you also learn about the Turner Family. Both the museum visit and the guided tour around the village are a must! We thoroughly enjoyed both experiences and followed up with a visit to the Museum Cafe for home made cake and coffee! (Also recommended).
The knowledge of the staff especially Scott kept us fascinated. The working machines give an insight into how life was in the Mill. Yiu step back into another world and a part of history.We recommend the Museum for both locals and tourists and visitors.
Written June 25, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

David O
Zurich, Switzerland12 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2021
Being shown around this mill by 2 Lancashire ladies was the best museum visit ever. They conveyed eloquently the phenomenal challenges faced by earlier Lancashire workers as they operated the complex powerful machinery to make the cloth we all bought and wore in earlier times.

The outside of the this museum is plain and un-inspiring. But when one of the ladies started up the massive mule spewing out its cotton we were all in awe.

Go and see it and be reminded that the "good old days" were hard , dangerous and unhealthy.

Thanks to all the workers there who shared the knowledge so well.

The coffee in the cafe is also very good! Better than the mill worker ever
Written October 29, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Kath
4 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2021 • Family
We had a lovely river walk from Irwell Vale ELR train station to Helmshore textiles museum. We combined a trip on the steam train and the visit to the museum for a full day out on a miserable Autumn day. The cinnamon cake was superb in the cafe. Staff and exhibits were great and held my 8 year old sons interest. Much better than expected. His best part was having a go at weaving on a hand loom while being supervised by a very patient member of staff. Very reasonably priced.
Written October 17, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Steve F
3 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2021 • Friends
We arrived to see the textile art as part of the British Textile Biennial but went went on the mill tours as well.
Absolutely outstanding tours by the onsite staff.
The upper floor has a cotton mill untouched since the mill was closed in the 1960s. The machinery still works and is demonstrated as part of the tour.
Written October 29, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jerry C
3 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2022 • Couples
We were a family group visiting the area for a reunion plus the chance to explore our family history. Our great grandfather had worked in a mill as had other relatives so the chance to visit the museum with its working machinery was too good to miss. From my initial phone call to enquire about the facilities to our departure from the mill all the employees with whom we came into contact could not have been more accommodating, friendly and helpful. We were treated to an entertaining, informative guided tour and we learned a lot and gained an insight into what our ancestor’s working life was like. If you are in the area, don’t miss the opportunity to visit this museum.
Written July 17, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Andrew M
Manchester, UK30 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2022
A really interesting visit to the Helmshore Mills today. The team of volunteers were very knowledgeable, providing tours through the Cotton Mill and Wool Mill. It was fascinating to see (and hear) the machinery and to listen to stories of the working conditions which workers and children faced in the Victorian times. Quite a few families were on the tour and I would recommend this place to anyone wishing to give their children a great experience. The guides made everyone welcome.
Written May 1, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

ajbangor58
Bury, UK85 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2023 • Couples
In the way to a walk on the Grane road we just called in this fabulous place. We only expected a quick look around and maybe an explanation of some techniques. We were met with a tour including a working spinning machine by a friendly and enthusiastic member of staff. The even older woollen museum at the back was shown to us by an equally engaging lady who was a font of knowledge. Great visit tremors place, don’t miss the mill pond walk.
Written April 11, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Katherine W
St Austell, UK13 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2022 • Couples
Don't miss this absolutely amazing textile mill! There is so much to see: both cotton mill and the woollen mill have all the looms and spinning machines still in place and working. The staff are passionate about this invaluable heritage and go to so much trouble to make sure you have a great experience. The museum has superb short videos to help you understand the history. We loved it and would definitely recommend for all ages.
Written April 2, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Beany
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2022 • Family
Great place to visit, the staff were very knowledgeable.
The tour was very entertaining including live machinery demonstrations.
My wife was brought up around the corner and has being promising to bring us here for nearly 20 years finally got around to it.
Glad we did.
Written May 29, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

judith j
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2022
A fascinating and well maintained mill site offering details of both cotton and wool production, with the machinery intact and in situ, and including demonstrations. A very informative guided tour is available of the two mill buildings, which I fully recommend.. As many of my ancestors worked in similar Lancashire mills I found the experience most enlightening and thought provoking, A neat, tidy site with visitor information and selection of related books. The staff were very pleasant and helpful, and well informed. Also a cafe on site providing sandwiches, lovely home made cakes, and other refreshments, by the most lovely staff.
Written April 13, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Helmshore Mills Textile Museum - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

Frequently Asked Questions about Helmshore Mills Textile Museum

Helmshore Mills Textile Museum is open:
  • Thu - Sun 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM


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