Helmshore Mills Textile Museum

Bringing the spinning industry to life

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. Here you can...

• Soak up the atmosphere of the historic mills and witness original machinery at work.
• Follow a journey to discover how raw wool and cotton were transformed into yarn, ready to be woven into cloth.
• Experience the Revolution gallery, where 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.
• Have fun and learn in an exceptional environment, at our many activities, events and special exhibitions.
• Rest and enjoy a tasty meal or snack in our pleasant, friendly café.

Improvements to the museum in recent years have enhanced access, displays, and facilities. We now offer hands-on interactives, providing fun and learning for all ages, and enjoyable videos giving historical and technical insights. Our popular demonstrations of working machinery by our friendly and informative staff continue to be a highlight of any visit.

The Coffee Mill café serves fresh food made on the premises, and our shop stocks a wide range of traditional and contemporary gifts for all the family. There is no admission charge for entry to the café and shop.

Access is available for wheelchairs and prams to most parts of the Museum, and we have a disabled toilet for visitors, and hearing loop.

The Museum is supported by The Friends of Helmshore Museum, who welcome new members . To join the Friends, or for more details, please visit their website: friendsofhelmshore.co.uk.

Part of the site is owned by The Higher Mill Trust. For details of the Higher Mill Trust please contact the museum on +(44) (0)1706 226459.

A major refurbishment completed in 2008 was supported by Lancashire County Council, the Heritage Lottery Fund, the North West Development Agency, and the Friends of Helmshore Museum.

Helmshore Textile Museum was proud to win the Lancashire & Blackpool Tourist Board 'Best Small Visitor Attraction of the Year' Award in 2009/10.

To continue with our successes, our cafe 'The Coffee Mill' has been accredited with the prestigious Taste Lancashire Quality Assurance award by Lancashire & Blackpool Tourist Board. The award recognises establishments who provide a consistently high quality dining experience and a commitment to local produce.

Activities

A changing programme of events, activities, demonstrations, talks, workshops and children's holiday activities, to keep all the family entertained, as well as a programme of changing exhibitions.

No Match

Come to see our art installation entitled No Match by international artist Claire Morgan. No Match forms part of Contemporary Heritage: a new way of seeing, an ambitious programme of contemporary art commissions inspired by Lancashire's heritage. The sculptural installation at Helmshore Mills Textile Museum is the third major artwork in the programme which is taking place at historic sites across Lancashire. During an artist residency in 2011, supported by Perspectives of Pennine Lancashire, Claire met with ex-mill workers to learn about the mills' fascinating history.  Claire is fascinated by our relationship with nature, the notion of change and the passing of time and the transcience of everything around us.  There is a sense of this fragility that carries through all her sculptures.

On Close Inspection

Come and inspect this beautiful exhibition by multi-talented textile artist group flaX. Join their fascinating exploration into the history and heritage of Helmshore Mills Textile Museum, as well as the industrial roots inherited from the textile workers and mill workers of the past. Creating the pieces for On Close Inspection provided an opportunity for flaX to demonstrate the diversity across the group. Each artist has taken inspiration from Helmshore's rich heritage and created their own interpretation of it. This is a stunning exhibition of contemporary textile art, which is the culmination of a creative journey that began with the group's small exhibition First Impressions back in April 2011.

It's free to see both the installation and the exhibition once you have paid your museum admission.

For more details please ring 01706 226459.

Special visit by the 22nd Regiment of Foot 

Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 May 12.00pm until 5.00pm

Discover what life was like for soldiers of the King's Infantry and their families in the late 18th century!

Watch their impressive firing displays and visit their camp.

Normal museum admission applies.

To discover more of what's on offer in the Rossendale area, visit http://www.visitrossendale.co.uk/site/scripts/download_info.php?fileID=1003

To find the best visual arts and heritage in Pennine Lancashire visit the Arts Map.

How to find us

We recommend travel by bus or road. Rail services are limited.

By Car:
Helmshore is one mile south of Haslingden on the B6235

By Bus:
11 Haslingden – Helmshore – Rawtenstall circular
Enquiries: Rossendale Transport 01706 212337

X41 Manchester – Helmshore – Accrington
Enquiries: Lancashire United 01254 260661

244 Blackburn – Haslingden – Rawtenstall
Enquiries: Rossendale Transport 01706 212337

By Rail:
To Rawtenstall from Bury, a limited tourist service operated by the East Lancashire Railway
Enquiries: 0161 764 7790