To consolidate our Victorian history topic, Prep Five visited Styal Mill in Cheshire. Our morning was spent exploring the mill. We learned about the start of the Industrial Revolution, and tried out some of the tasks which the young mill apprentices would have done. We all practised carrying the can, working as doffers and everyone did some excellent scavenging for bits of cotton dropped under the machinery. It was quite fun, but not so much for the Victorian children who had to work there for many hours a day. The clattering of all the machines was deafening, and it felt like an earthquake with the floor shaking when all the looms were running. Some of us particularly enjoyed the gory stories of industrial injuries way back before health and safety rules existed.
After lunch, we walked up to the Apprentice House to see if we could be taken on as apprentices at Mr. Gregg’s cotton mill. The strict supervisor Mr. Shawcross put us through our paces in the cobbled yard before we entered the house – boys first, as they were considered far more important and clever!
Firstly, we visited the kitchen where we learnt about the apprentices’ diet; we were particularly unimpressed by the breakfast porridge which was so thick that it could be held in unappetising lumps in one’s hand! However, fresh fruit, vegetables (grown by the boys in the garden) and meat were also included in the meals, and much better than the meagre workhouse rations. We also peeped in at Mr. Shawcross’s accommodation, which looked very comfortable with a cosy fire, four poster bed and even a cake for tea!
Next it was time to visit the dormitories, with one bed between two for the next nine years – the mattresses were stuffed with straw (and included a few “guests” such as spiders and bedbugs!) Under the beds we spotted chamber pots, as the apprentice children were locked in at night time so that they did not escape. Leo and Jovi bravely volunteered for emptying duties! We all had a try at bed making and Mr. Shawcross was especially impressed with the skill of Anji’s team! As a modern and philanthropic employer, Mr Gregg ensured that his apprentices had the most up to date medical care, and we learnt about the explosive qualities of brimstone and treacle, and were suitably horrified when the pot of blood-sucking leeches was passed around. This was a remedy for sore eyes, which was a common complaint from those employed in the dusty cotton mills.
Next we visited the schoolroom downstairs. As the boys’ brains were considered by Victorians to be superior, it was only the boys who received lessons, while the girls had to turn their thoughts to tasks such as ironing, sewing, laundry, cleaning, cooking and mending.
We headed back to school reflecting on the lives of Mr. Gregg’s nine year old apprentices. While it was fascinating to step back in time, few of us would swap our twenty-first century lives for the daily grind of twelve hour shifts in the mill. Our thanks go to the excellent and inspiring staff at Styal who brought the past to life so vividly, to Mr. Rooney and Miss Gregory for driving and Miss McEvoy for accompanying us.
It was amazing to see all the sights and my favorite part was dressing up.I also really enjoyed feeling the big bar of cotton and seeing the machines work.One of the machines were made in 1679! I was a fun experience and I would love to go again.
-Anji Prep V
I liked it when Darcy held the pudding and when i sat on the desk with Philippa in the school classroom. I liked the big spinning wheel and when watching Jovi doing the hula hoop.
Florence Gerrard prep v
I like how we felt the cotton my mum said she went here and I have a cotton plant on the windowsill as well
i really liked how the mechanisms worked and they never had to use electricity in victorian times and i especially liked the actual trip overall
by zulfikar
l liked being Mr Greg and also the massive cotton machines l would not want to work there!!! Max M
I really loved it I was so excited and it was so fun I loved the bit where we got to hold
the really soft cotton.
By Athena
I had a great time at Quarry Bank Mill. It was very noisey I felt sorry for the children who had to work in the Mill Philippa Cash.
The trip overall was fun but my favourite part was the machines and the water wheel
Carlo K
I loved dressing up and looking at the water wheel spin and the gears changing.
I loved the dressing up room because i put on boots that were like pillars and was amazed by the water mill
I really enjoyed the trip. I liked learning about how they made cotton in the cottages.
Alice
The trip we went on was alright it had new and interesting things that I learnt i liked the part at the end when we we’re learning how to weave i didn’t like hearing what accidents people had”ouch!” I also liked the part at the end when the man was pretending to be thd instructor of the mill and we had to do activities anf we saw those real alive insects in the cup but I don’t think they were alive anymore since they had been drowning in water i also liked the part when we goy to see dormitories and we had make the neatest bed competition my team didn’t win but that was alright after all I enjoyed the tri some bits i didn’t like as much but it was alright.
(by Isha)
I loved this day it was awesome my favourite bit was seeing how the machines and the mill worked and when we got to dress up and to see how it was to play outside as a child this day was awesome !! (Cluadia)
I liked the day at the mill because we learnt about mill life and my favourite thing to do there was feeling that big batch of cotton. My other favourite thing was seeing the machines moving and the lady going under the machines, it was very loud but good.
Darcy Spavin
I really liked this trip, it was the best trip I have ever been on.
The best picture was of Max because he looks like a super hero in disguise.
I had a really fun time at Styal Mill! I really liked seeing the big wheel that makes the machines run and I also really enjoyed when we went to the apprentice house and we saw what the house would look like and how strict it was. It was really weird to me that the boys get to learn and not the girls and how it used to be men first and not ladies first! I also really liked seeing all the jobs that the children and adults had to do! And I especially liked the job when you had to change the cotton things because it was the easiest job to do and also the least dangerous.
Lucy Smolar
This trip was really good! I loved finding out new things about the Victorian times and found it really fun to pretend that we were going to work. I would gladly go again!
I can’t wait for the other school trips that we have coming up!
-Jovi Cannon, Prep V
I really liked the weight scale, Austin.R
It was so cool how the mill span and I love how I got to dress up