Queen Street Mill, Industrial heritage museum in Briercliffe, England
Queen Street Mill is a textile factory in Briercliffe housing hundreds of functional looms powered by steam engines to produce cloth. The building preserves original late 19th-century production equipment and demonstrates the complete mechanical process of cotton weaving on an industrial scale.
The building was built in 1894 and operated as a cotton weaving factory until 1982 when the textile industry in the region declined. During its nearly 90 years of operation, it employed hundreds of workers and represented the height of Lancashire's textile manufacturing era.
The mill's presence shaped daily life in the village, with workers and their families organizing their routines around shift schedules and production demands. You can see how the factory became the center of the community's social and economic world.
Guided tours are mainly available between spring and autumn, with demonstrations of operating looms and steam engines during your visit. The site is partially accessible on foot, though some areas require climbing stairs or have limited mobility access.
This is the last steam-powered weaving factory still operating anywhere in the world, with engines and equipment from the 1890s that continue to function. Many visitors are surprised to find that the machinery actually still works and the building continues to produce cloth.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
