Ellenroad receives early Christmas present from National Lottery Heritage Fund

Ellenroad Engine House Steam Engine

The Ellenroad Engine House in Newhey has been awarded just under £50,000 for its 'a warmer welcome' project by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

The money will be to carry essential upgrades of the surfacing around the museum building which is currently in a poor state of repair and very muddy. Additionally, new and updated information boards will be in place for all exhibits, a new website will be launched, new learning materials provided, and a host of other conservation works will be carried out to improve visitor experience. 

The work is expected to start soon.

Councillor Irene Davidson, the Chair of the Ellenroad Trust, said “I am delighted that the museum has received this grant from the Heritage Fund; it’s really going to help us getting more people through the doors and give them a much improved visitor experience.

“Our volunteers have worked extremely hard to get this award and it will really raise the profile of our brilliant museum.”

Zoe Attwood, Chair of the Ellenroad Society which runs the museum day to day, commented: "2020 looks set to be an exciting time at Ellenroad. With the improvements to the visitor experience and the donation of a barista-style coffee machine, we are certainly moving forward and adapting to suit modern times."

Ellenroad Mill was built as a mule spinning mill in 1890. After the war, a new ring-spinning mill was built and the engines were refurbished.

The museum opened in 1985 to ensure the preservation of Ellenroad Engine House and engines. Although the mill was closed in 1982 and its buildings later demolished, the engine house, steam engine and the boiler house chimney were all retained and maintained.

The engine house opens the first Sunday of every month between February and December for steamings and every Sunday for static displays.

The engine house will be next in steam on Sunday 2 February with the Britannia Coconut Dancers and the Saddleworth Clog and Garland Dancers performing.