Restoration of the Torrs - 1974

The Torrs is a natural gorge through which the old highway from Newtown crossed the River Sett to New Mills close to the Sett's confluence with the River Goyt. In the late eighteenth century, this was an ideal site for water powered cotton mills. Weirs and leats were constructed to control the water and large mills stood on the rocky terrace above the water. Sandstone from the cliff faces was cut for building material further widening the gorge.

 The Torrs was home to three large cotton mills from around 1785. Workers and water bailiffs cottages were build in the gorge and the Torrs was for a long time the industrial heart of New Mills. In 1882 fire claimed Rock Mill and in 1912 Torr Mill suffered the same fate. The industry gradually fell into recession during the 20th century and large parts of the Torrs fell into decay. Only Torr Vale Mill continued to operate.

From 1930 onward clearance orders forced the demolition of dwellings many of which backed onto the rock faces. For a time the Torrs was neglected and closed to the public, nature reclaimed it, its ruins and its history. But a scheme to reclaim it began in the 1960s. The scheme was initially suggested by the New Mills Civic Amenity Society on whose behalf Dr. L. Millward J.P. wrote:

The history of the Torrs reclamation began with the formation of the Society whose aim was to tidy up the New Mills district in general, one of the first priorities being the Torrs.
The first opportunity came in 1969 when British Army commitments in the Far East were being abandoned and the Ministry of Defence agreed to allow the Royal Engineers returning to this country to undertake conservation schemes approved by them.  Through the good offices of Mr. Peter M. Jackson, approval of the Ministry was obtained from the Federation of Civil Engineering Contractors and the appropriate Trades Unions organisations. However, these approvals were not given and that scheme had to be abandoned.

"The second opportunity was when the Department of the Environment offered 75% grant towards the cost of specified and approved conservation schemes, and the Society contacted the Derbyshire County Council, whose Deputy Planning Officer, at great inconvenience to himself, attended a meeting of the Society.  He recommended the engagement of a consultant landscape architect to prepare a plan for submission to the County Council, and on the recommendation of the Director of the Civic Trust for the North West, an approach was made to Derek Lovejay and Partners.  Mr. John Warley visited the site and his enthusiasm for the project was boundless, and after an intense investigation of the area as it was, a proposed scheme was very soon produced. 

"On being approached by the Society, the New Mills Urban District Council readily agreed to take the financial responsibility for the cost of the scheme. The first proposals were somewhat elaborate and were not considered appropriate both on the grounds of cost and the consideration that as much as possible of the natural flora and fauna in the Torrs should be retained and preserved. A modified plan was then produced and approved, and submitted to the Department of the Environment where it was also approved for the 75% Government grant towards the cost. A public appeal was made by the Society to cover the remaining 25% of the cost already incurred in preparing the plans, and the people of New Mills responded enabling the Society to hand over the money to the Council.

"New Mills Urban District Council already owned a certain amount of land involved, but there was the difficulty of obtaining the other plots included in the proposals.  Following a report he had seen in the High Peak Reporter, Mr. Slack of Whaley Bridge contacted the Council to say that he and his cousins owned the land left to them by their grandfather, Mr Sidebottom, on which the Torr Mill formerly stood, and willingly offered to convey the land to the Council for a nominal sum. 

"The greatest difficulty was encountered in tracing the owners of land in and around the derelict fustian mill (Rock Mill) of which the deeds were destroyed during the blitz in Liverpool in 1942. But by the painstaking efforts of Mr. John A. Pearson, all the legal procedures were taken to acquire the land and after many long and weary months, negotiations were successfully concluded.

 "The contract for the work was awarded to Easter and Beswick of Hayfield, and through the enthusiasm of Mr John Easter and of his very able and willing site foreman, Mr Fred Barnes, a start was made in October last year with the result we are able to see and appreciate.

 "It is a heritage of which New Mills people may be justly proud, and there are now outstanding only the question of the old Chain-horse House and the right of way from the Torrs to Church Road to be settled, to finally complete the project first suggested by the Society to the Council in February 1967”.

The Chain-horse House was partially demolished and now acts as a seating and viewing area. The pathway out of the Torrs onto Hyde Bank Road and so to Church Road was converted to a series of steps. The Torrs was officially reopened by Professor Graham Ashworth on the 21st of September 1974. It now forms the central part of The Park under the Town an area unique to New Mills.

 

 

 

 

This site is listed in the British Towns and Villages Encyclopaedia of Great Britain and we can be found in the entry for New Mills