Building record 2617/1/1 - Quarry Bank Mill, Styal

Built in 1784 for Samuel Greg, as a rural mill development, to counter the lowering of living standards, and hence moral standards, of millworkers. The mill was extended in 1796, 1817-21 & 1836-40. Water powered, with one, then two waterwheels by Peter Ewart, one of which was replaced by Thomas Hewes' wood and iron suspension wheel, in 1807. These were replaced by Thomas Hewes' 9.6m x 6.3m, 44 ton 100 h.p. wheel, between 1817 and 1820, which continued until 1905 (1), when it was replaced by 2 Gilbert Gilkes turbines (2). The wheel was assisted by a 10 h.p. Boulton and Watt steam engine, added in 1810 (replacing an earlier engine, of 1799). A 20 h.p. Boulton and Watt beam engine was added in 1836, which was added to by a Martin & Smethurst horizontal engine, in 1871. The mill used water frames until 1836, when they were replaced by powerlooms, housed in extensions built in 1836 & 1838 (1). The mill is built in English garden wall bond red brick, with Welsh slate roof. Tall octagonal mill chimney. 5 storeys, 23 bay east front. Right three bays projecting under pediment. Central stone doorcase with pediment, and inscription "Quarry Bank Mill Built by Samuel Greg Esquire of Belfast Ireland Anno Domini 1784", painted after 1822. Clock in pediment and open bellcote with lead cupola on ridge. Left 7 bays project under a mansard roof. Further additions to south end include 8-bay mill offices. West front has lower range along river side and date of 1810 over wheel outflow. At south end is a 4 storey weaving shed with flat stone wedged heads to lower windows. Floors divided by simple iron columns carrying wooden joists. 2 closed string stone staircases. Mill offices retain their original fittings (3). Trusses and roof rafters are shrouded in iron sheeting (1), as are some of the floors and the original doors, as fireproofing measures (4). Privy towers empty into mill races. Now an NT run industrial museum (1).

<1> Calladine A & Fricker J, 1993, East Cheshire Textile Mills, p.38-62, p.111-155 (Book). SCH1093.

<2> Quarry Bank Mill Trust Ltd, 1990, Water Power at Quarry Bank Mill Styal, /3 (Oral Communication). SCH3700.

<3> Department of the Environment, 1971-2005, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, 1/303 (Report). SCH1934.

<4> Quarry Bank Mill Trust Ltd, 1988, The Building of Quarry Bank Mill, /3 (Oral Communication). SCH3062.

<5> Engels F, 1887, The Condition of the Working Class in England, / (Book). SCH3110.

<6> Pevsner N & Hubbard E, 1971, The Buildings of England: Cheshire, /347 1971 (Book). SCH3078.

<7> Ashmore, O, 1982, The Industrial Archaeology of North West England, /63 (Book). SCH3181.