Discover your industrial heritage at the Big Dig

Date published: 23 June 2011

Historians young and old are invited to join the Tottington Mill Big Dig to uncover the town’s industrial heritage.

The event, which runs on 15 and 16 July, following the success of the open days held on the site of the former Tottington Mill Printworks in May.

Visitors can come along between noon and 4pm on either day and learn about the site’s history – and, if you fancy it, do dome digging too! Tools and training will be provided, but please bring gloves and stout footwear to join in the excavation which is led by the archaeologists. Meet at the Island Lodge car park, or at the site of the mill.

Kirklees Valley Local Nature Reserve has a close relationship with its industrial past. The remains of much of this industrial heritage, such as the reservoirs and building foundations, influence the appearance of the valley today. Near what is now Tower Farm, a corn mill stood which was replaced or evolved into Tottington Mill Printworks. The printworks worked with calico and was a major influence on the growth of the village of Tottington, employing more than 400 people in 1841.

Oxford Archaeology (North) has been employed by the Environment Agency and Bury Council to undertake a survey of the remains of the former mill site. There a number of features that can still be seen including stone dye vats, engine beds and a culvert that took water under the original mill building.

For more information on the event, contact Paul Robinson on 0161 253 7668 or email p.v.robinson@bury.gov.uk