Milling Around

This bank holiday weekend we made the most of the beautiful sunshine and took a day trip a little further afield in search of something different to do.  We ended up going to Quarry Bank Mill where the Channel 4 series (also called The Mill funnily enough…) was filmed.  I haven’t actually seen the programme, but I reckon it must have been a good bit of publicity for the place because there were loads of people there!  Whether it was that or the lovely weather and promise of a cream scone which drew people in, I’m not sure, but it certainly made for a bustling atmosphere.

First we had a wander around the mill itself and saw some of the machinery in action before having a tour around the Apprentice House, where some of the poor and orphaned children working in the mill lived.   Sometimes I find those kinds of guided tours a bit slow-paced but this one was actually very good and did give you a nice bit of background without bombarding you with a load of facts! I was slightly concerned that our tour guide, or ‘the woman in the bonnet’ as I’d like to call her, was going to pick on me and say something along the lines of ‘You must be about 15…how would you have felt working here at your age?’ and then I was going to have to either go along with it and inwardly resent ‘the woman in the bonnet’ for the rest of the tour, or awkwardly explain that I’m actually 22 despite my youthful charms.  This is the kind of paranoia that sets in when you’ve been ID’d multiple times in one bar on the same night…yes I needed to prove I’m over 18 to get in but why not humiliate me yet again when, God forbid, I order something other than a Fruit Shoot?! Not that I’m bitter or anything.  Anyway, the scenario with ‘the woman in the bonnet’ didn’t happen, you’ll be pleased to hear.

Even if you’re not really into history I’d still really recommend going to the mill just for the gorgeous surroundings.  There are acres of beautifully-kept gardens to stroll around and the river flowing through the estate makes for a really picturesque setting, something I wasn’t really expecting when I imagined the location of an industrial factory.  Before heading home, we had a little walk down to the weir.  It felt very Salmon Fishing in the Yemen, even though we were actually in Cheshire and there were no fish in sight.  But never mind, any opportunity to feel a bit more like Emily Blunt is always a good thing!

I’d highly recommend Quarry Bank Mill if you’re in the area and whether you’re a fan of the TV show, a history buff or just fancy a walk around some pretty countryside, it’s got something for everyone.