Quarry Bank is a place of stark contrast, where the power of the Industrial Revolution sits alongside the beauty of picturesque gardens and lush countryside. At Quarry Bank you can discover a complete industrial community and experience the very different worlds of owner and worker, who lived and worked here side by side.
Discover what it was like to work in a cotton mill. Experience heritage machinery in action and feel the floors shake beneath your feet as the spinning machines turn and the looms weave. Find out about the life and legacy of Samuel Greg, the founder of Quarry Bank.
Explore the Greg family home, Quarry Bank House, and wander through the stunning picturesque gardens that rise up the banks of the river valley, offering stunning views and spectacular changes through the seasons. By contrast, take a guided tour of the Apprentice House to step into the lives of the pauper children who worked in the mill. Stroll to Styal village to see how many of the other workers lived. Styal remains a thriving community today and we ask you to be mindful of their tenants' privacy.
On the estate there are acres of woodland to explore. Follow the meandering path of the river Bollin and cross the folly bridges as you look out for an array of wildlife and beautiful views!
Mill - Rare surviving eighteenth-century cotton mill, built by the industrialist Samuel Greg, with working heritage machinery.
Apprentice House - Home of the apprentices and superintendents. Up to 90 children were housed here, working 10-hour days in the mill.
Quarry Bank House - Elegant Georgian family home, built for the Greg family. Located next to the mill and overlooking the river and gardens.
Garden - Picturesque gardens on the banks of the river valley. Restored glasshouse and kitchen garden.
Estate - 400 acres of beautiful woodland and countryside surrounding the River Bollin.
Styal Village - Early nineteenth-century village, built by the Greg family for the mill workers. Village hub with an exhibition, and workers' cottage.
Playground - A small play area for littles ones to enjoy.
Eating and Shopping - Weaving Shed Restaurant, Upper Garden Café and Stables ice cream parlour. Browse the Mill Shop, Garden Shop and the Pre-loved bookshop.