The Heritage Centre - 1989

The Heritage and Information Centre was officially opened by Brian Redhead on the 8th April 1989. It was conceived as part of a plan to develop tourism in the Torrs and to display for local people the history of New Mills.

The centre is in a converted stone basement, formerly a butcher's shop; it lies beside one of the major routes from the town centre to the Torrs and Millennium Bridge. The design and conversion of the building was collaboration between the town council and the architects and planners of the county council. The cost of approximately eighty thousand pounds was met with grants from the Town Council, Derbyshire County Council, English Heritage, the English Tourist Board, The Countryside Commission and various local groups and individuals. The running costs are met by New Mills Town Council, with a grant from High Peak Borough Council.

Local people have enthusiastically supported the centre, donating objects, documents and photographs some of which are on display. An important part of the centres work is in urban studies for schools, a room is set aside for this purpose.

The centre features fixed displays telling the story of New Mills. A special attraction is a model of the town in 1884, the year in which the Union Road Bridge was built. The model has an accompanying commentary and pin pointing lights allow visitors to follow the story around the town.

For young visitors there is a reconstruction of a coal mine tunnel to crawl through. Displays about the former engraving and Calico printing industries in the town include a life size model of an engraver in his workshop. A shop area sells books, local publications, maps, souvenirs and refreshments. Outside the centre are a cobbled lane and courtyard. A viewing platform overlooks the Torrs and Torr Vale Mill; this view appeared on a Royal Mail stamp to mark the Millennium.