The archive and collection at Quarry Bank

The Workers’ Library

Inside the Workers' Library were hundreds of books enjoyed by the mill workers and residents of Styal village in the early 20th century.

The Greg family, as keen promoters of the Temperance movement, wanted to promote the literacy of the mill workers over any temptations towards alcohol. The Workers' Library was opened by Henry Greg in 1900, and was housed in a Club Room in the village.

The collection

The collection at Quarry Bank now contains 260 books, yet a 1920s catalogue lists 487 books. Minutes from the Club Committee shows £10 a year was donated to build the collection (around £500 in today’s money). The cost of books was usually well outside the means of most working class readers.

The borrowing book

The first borrowing book covers the period from the first loan in November 1901 to March 1915, during which time there were 3,810 loans taken out, more than five a week.

Textile-testing equipment

The archive also houses an extensive collection of machines and apparatus used to test the quality of yarn and cloth.

The testing of incoming and outgoing yarn and cloth was important to all mills. It helped to identify irregularities, minimise potential losses and ensure that yarn bought in for weaving was of the required quality. Quarry Bank's testing room was located next to the financial heart of the mill, it demonstrated the importance of the textile testing process. Testing was an important thing to protect the reputation of the mill within the Lancashire cotton industry.