Museum of the Lancashire Textile Industry

Helmshore Textile Museums Holcombe Road Helmshore, Rossendale Lancashire BB4 4NP Tel: 01706 226459

Tucked away in the undiscovered beauty of the Rossendale Valley lie the Helmshore Textile Museums. Experience two of Lancashire's original textile mills and sample an atmosphere that has been preserved in time. At Higher Mill (built in 1789) watch the mighty waterwheel powering the stocks as they thump the wet cloth. Wander into this historic mill and soak in the atmosphere, discovering unique textile machines dating from the industrial revolution. At Whitaker's Mill, a stone built, 19th century cotton spinning mill you can still see working spinning mules. Watch live demonstrations by skilled workers and discover the processes that transform raw cotton into thread. With a changing programme of exhibitions throughout the season, Helmshore also has a regular events and activities programme including talks, workshops and children's holiday activities.

Queen Street Mill Harle Syke Burnley BB10 2HX Tel: 01282 412555

Queen Street Textile Museum is a unique survivor of the nineteenth century textile industry. Recognised as a national treasure and designated as part of the textile industrial collections of Lancashire County Museum Service Queen Street Textile Museum preserves an age now gone from Europe. This mill was a workers co-operative, which ran commercially from 1895 to 1982 when the mill became a museum. The 500 horsepower tandem compound steam engine Peace, with its impressive 14ft (4 metres) flywheel powering the weaving shed now containing 308 Lancashire Looms. The Lancashire Boilers that power Peace with steam are original to the mill. Queen Street Textile Museum shows through machinery the story of weaving from spun yarn processing to woven cloth, through a Cylinder Tape Sizing machine, drawing-in frames and the weaving shed. The engine powers the machinery every day the museum is open. Queen Street Textile Museum has a range of special events, programmes, activities and exhibitions throughout the year.