Edith Nesbit in Strines, Greater Manchester

One section of the History Room in Strines is dedicated to Edith Nesbit's book The Railway Children (1905) and mentions places in the area associated with the book, such as the station, the viaduct, tunnel, canal, etc. Nesbit was very familiar with Strines because she was friends with the Woodcock family of Aspenshaw Hall in Thornsett, where she went on several occasions. A number of her books mention the small town 'Old Mills', reminiscent of New Mills next to Strines.

The History Room, Strines, Greater Manchester

 

Hardly anything remains of the original Strine Print Works, although this building at the side of the River Goyt is a very rare example. Named The History Room, it is a mini-museum dedicated to the original factory and various people intent on leaving their mark on Strines: a labour of love, and testimony to devotion to local history.

The History Room.

The original (restored) clock for clocking in.

Illustration of a honeysuckle for a copy of The Strines Journal.

Front pages from issues of the monthly Strrines Journal.

Printers' blocks.

The Dovecote, Strines, Greater Manchester

 

The Chinese dovecote in the middle of the mill pond is Grade II listed and dates from about 1830: it was certainly there in 1852 as it is on the cover of the Strines Journal. It appears that it was erected more for ornamental reasons than practical ones: the earlier days of dovecotes providing food had long gone. It has been repaired a number of times but the essential structure is the same as the first constuction. It has six sides and seventy-two nesting boxes. The weathervane, as well as the points of the compass, has a sailing ship.

The Strines Clock, Strines, Greater Manchester

In the clock itself at Strines are details of its history. I hardly think I'd be breaking any copyright by revealing the information: it's available for all to see, local history societies clearly want to make this information available, and I reproduce this exactly as it is written:

'Thomas Bruce was for many years foreman mechanic as Strines Print Works. It is likely that he had a clock-making background, an ideal training for the innovation required in the rapidly developing calico printing industry.

It certainly seems that "Old Bruce" was resourceful, building a domestic waterwheel and manufacturing his own gas for his home "Whitecroft Cottage" (now next to the Recreation Ground). He made his turret clock (signed Thomas Bruce 1809), which was sited on the original works buildings next to Strines Hall. The coming and goings of Strines people were ordered by the striking of its bell in the days when clocks and watches were rare household acquisitions.

The eight-day movement striking hourly is mounted on a wrought iron frame - a design popular in the north and midlands in the late C18th. Bruce also made another clock for Disley Church that was replaced in the early C20th.

The Strines clock was eventually moved to the 3^rd Works circa 1930 and placed over the main entrance. This was probably a nostalgic gesture to the history of the company. When the site was demolished the community was able to retrieve it with a view to reinstating it at the original Prints works entrance. With the help of a Heritage Lottery Grant we were able to give it a new lease of life and hopefully increase the appreciation of the role this community played in the nation's social and economic history.'

There is also a plaque:

'In grateful recognition of the tireless work of Melvyn Smithin preserving our local heritage, from the community of Strines 2nd July 2016'.