Todmorden Mills

Todmorden Mills is a former industrial complex with four preserved buildings located in the Don Valley in Toronto. The site includes a paper mill from 1825, a brewery, and two residential homes that together show how people worked and lived at this mill settlement.

The settlement started in 1795 as a lumber mill after Aaron and Isaiah Skinner received land to process building materials. Over time, different factories grew here, with the paper mill becoming the main driver of the location's development.

The two restored houses show how people lived and worked here during the 1890s and 1940s. Walking through them, you notice how working conditions and daily routines changed over those decades.

The site is easy to reach and offers a pleasant walk through the natural surroundings of the valley. Visitors can explore the buildings and gardens at their own pace or join guided tours that explain more about the history and daily operations of the mills.

During World War II, the grounds became an internment camp for German merchant marine prisoners who worked at the nearby brick factory. This little-known chapter reveals an unexpected link between the everyday industrial operations and the broader events of the war.