A £1.4 million fundraising appeal to help complete the restoration of a "unique" Industrial Revolution community in Cheshire has been launched by the National Trust.
Quarry Bank Mill was the heart of cotton production in the region from the 1780s through to the 1920s and is the most complete surviving example of such a community.
The site is cared for by the National Trust and the mill's working machinery, the Apprentice House occupied by pauper children who worked there, and the estate's gardens and walks are already enjoyed by more than 130,000 visitors a year.
But the £6 million National Trust project aims to restore and reveal currently unseen features of the estate and the archives of the Greg family, who built the mill on the banks of the River Bollin in 1784, their workers and pauper children.
The project will include the restoration of a worker's cottage and shop in the estate village to provide a glimpse of life at the time.
The trust also plans to repair Victorian glasshouses that were at the forefront of technology at the time and produced exotic and out-of-season fruit for the Greg family, and bring them back into production.
Original woodland "pleasure grounds" will be restored and the "northern woods" with bridges, pathways and vistas will be opened. And the Greg family's house will be opened to showcase the archive material, letters and documents of the family, estate workers and apprentice children spanning from the 1790s to the 20th century.
Quarry Bank's general manager Eleanor Underhill said: "Quarry Bank Mill is an extraordinary place that captures a precious time in this country's history. It's no wonder this industrial era featured so heavily in the Olympics opening ceremony last year. Through this appeal we want to be able to share its deep history and personal stories with millions.
"As part of the project we will be inviting volunteers and local communities to help restore key parts of Quarry Bank and develop their own restoration and conservation skills that can be passed on to future generations."
The project will cost a total of £6 million and take five years to complete. The National Trust has launched the public fundraising appeal and will also seek contributions from funding bodies and organisations.
Watch the video here http://vimeo.com/59508580
Wednesday, 13 February 2013
Wednesday, 30 January 2013
Friends of the CArrs
Attended a meeting tonight of the Friends of the Carrs.
Looking at improving the council run park which abuts NT land. We share the same aims and share the same issues such as dealing with non native invasive species. So we work beyond our boundaries and share knowledge, people and tools.
Tonight we looked at events amongst other things and in particular an event in September called "Canines Capers on the Carrs" a family fun dog show.
People can bring their dog, have a go at the agility course, try to win best in various category's whilst having fun and we can get a message across at the same time about responsible dog ownership.
Should be a good day.
Looking at improving the council run park which abuts NT land. We share the same aims and share the same issues such as dealing with non native invasive species. So we work beyond our boundaries and share knowledge, people and tools.
Tonight we looked at events amongst other things and in particular an event in September called "Canines Capers on the Carrs" a family fun dog show.
People can bring their dog, have a go at the agility course, try to win best in various category's whilst having fun and we can get a message across at the same time about responsible dog ownership.
Should be a good day.
Saturday, 19 January 2013
Down the Drain!
Over the last two years flooding and ponding around the village has been getting progressively worse. Investigations with our drainage contractor over the 'summer' of 2012 revealed that the main drain taking surface water from nearly all parts of the village was in need of replacement.
The drain originally put in sometime in the 1820s was on its last legs. The photo below gives an idea of the issues we are dealing with.
The drain is comprised of clay 1' long pipes butted up against each other. Soil particles can get between these and as you see in the photo, limit the water's progress through the pipe.
The answer was to install a new drain along the 600mtr length and bypass the old drain, letting it die slowly. It will continue to take water but not in the capacity we need to move it off the property to the river.
The new drain was started on January the 4th and progress to date has been good. We have picked up lots of land drains, these could be anywhere between 150 -200 years old, some still working. These have all been connected into the new drain.
This image shows a 'horseshoe' drain which were roughly spaced around every 12mtr through the field. Where they were working they were connected up to the main drain to carry on the good work.
Once connected up, end to end, we should see the effect almost straight away. We currently have standing water in fields that should melt away into the drain.
We are about half way through the project, so we'll keep you informed of progress and just hope it stays dry so we can complete it without wading through sludge!
The drain originally put in sometime in the 1820s was on its last legs. The photo below gives an idea of the issues we are dealing with.
 |
| section of drain nearly blocked completely with silt
|
The answer was to install a new drain along the 600mtr length and bypass the old drain, letting it die slowly. It will continue to take water but not in the capacity we need to move it off the property to the river.
The new drain was started on January the 4th and progress to date has been good. We have picked up lots of land drains, these could be anywhere between 150 -200 years old, some still working. These have all been connected into the new drain.
This image shows a 'horseshoe' drain which were roughly spaced around every 12mtr through the field. Where they were working they were connected up to the main drain to carry on the good work.
The main drain itself is made of rigid plastic, twin wall construction and very strong. This will be taking water for the next 200 years. So everything needed to be accurate from the fall from one end to another between 1" to 1 1/2" to joining in old pipes.
Once connected up, end to end, we should see the effect almost straight away. We currently have standing water in fields that should melt away into the drain.
We are about half way through the project, so we'll keep you informed of progress and just hope it stays dry so we can complete it without wading through sludge!
Tuesday, 20 November 2012
Bat Mitigation Training North Wales
I am spending two and a half days at Plas Tan Y Bwlch, Snowdonia National Park study centre. The course is designed for consultants and others dealing with bats and covers measuring success, compliance and reporting. Although not a consultant, the content is applicable to my work at Styal.
Today, we have been out to a road construction site to view mitigation work that included the installation of three bat culverts to get bats (and otters) also a high level crossing for bats, across a busy road. We looked at the potential for success of this project. All very interesting. We then visited a small church with a roost of lesser horseshoe bats. Work had been carried out to enable the bats to easily access and egress the site.
Here's the family that lived at the Plas around the1890's and the house itself. Well cared for and and a great venue for a study centre.
Today, we have been out to a road construction site to view mitigation work that included the installation of three bat culverts to get bats (and otters) also a high level crossing for bats, across a busy road. We looked at the potential for success of this project. All very interesting. We then visited a small church with a roost of lesser horseshoe bats. Work had been carried out to enable the bats to easily access and egress the site.
Monday, 15 October 2012
River Claims Another Dog
Hear news today of yet another dog drowning in the Bollin. The under current and fast flows in places mean that even the strongest swimmers get into trouble.
The rain we have had recently means the river is usually higher than normal and in places is deeper than people imagine. This video was taken a while ago standing next to the main weir at Quarry Bank Mill. The road was closed as this caused flooding with the water from the Bollin and the Dean rivers backing up.
You don't really get the sense of the raw power from the footage. But if you have a dog, keep them away from the rivers at the moment!
Hear news today of yet another dog drowning in the Bollin. The under current and fast flows in places mean that even the strongest swimmers get into trouble.
You don't really get the sense of the raw power from the footage. But if you have a dog, keep them away from the rivers at the moment!
Sunday, 26 August 2012
United Utilities
Thursday 23 August we had a group from United Utilities to come and have a go with our sweet chestnut cleft fence. We are renewing all of the fencing around the village as some of it is falling apart. As the team soon found though, some of the posts just did not want to come out of the ground!
Working on three different sections, the group soon mastered the art of hole digging. I was impressed by a particular group working by the chapel who seemed to be able to dig perfectly round holes. Putting the posts in was a different matter. The back filling is a technique that needs to be practised. Little and often with lots of ramming to firm up the post. All this needs to happen while another keeps an eye on the post being straight, not an easy thing with bent posts!
At the end of the day a very satisfied group and a good job done.
Working on three different sections, the group soon mastered the art of hole digging. I was impressed by a particular group working by the chapel who seemed to be able to dig perfectly round holes. Putting the posts in was a different matter. The back filling is a technique that needs to be practised. Little and often with lots of ramming to firm up the post. All this needs to happen while another keeps an eye on the post being straight, not an easy thing with bent posts!
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