New Mills
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- There is also a New Mills in Monmouthshire, Wales.
  Map sources for New Mills at grid reference SJ995855
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New Mills is a town in Derbyshire, England approximately 8 miles (13 km) south-east of Stockport. It is sited at the confluence of the rivers Goyt and Sett, on the border of Cheshire.
The town is situated at the north western edge of the Peak District, England's first national park.
It has a population of approximately 10,000. Its ancient name was Bowden Middle Cale. The name of New Mills was given to it from a corn-mill erected on the Sett in the hamlet of Ollersett, and is specially applied to the group of factories which grew up round it. Formerly paper and cloth were the staple industries of the district followed by iron and brass foundries, cotton mills and print-works.
In recent times the town has become a rural feeder town for the conurbation of Manchester with two railway stations — New Mills Central (on the Manchester to Sheffield 'Hope Valley' line) and New Mills Newtown (on the Manchester to Buxton line, with through trains to Preston and Blackpool). The main Manchester to Sheffield 'fast' line pases through New Mills but by-passes the stations. The A6 road skirts the southwest of the town. The Peak Forest Canal passes through the town and there is a marina.
Districts of New Mills include Newtown and Low Leighton. The villages and hamlets of Thornsett, Hague Bar, Rowarth, Brookbottom, Gowhole, and most of Birch Vale, all fall within the town boundaries. The two main churches in the town are St. George's (Church of England) and St. Mary's (Roman Catholic). There are other, smaller churches and chapels. The former New Mills Grammar School is now the New Mills School and Sixth Form College. There are also six primary schools: St. George's (CE), St. Mary's (RC), New Mills County Primary, Newtown, Hague Bar and Thornsett.
New Mills' biggest and best known employer is Swizzels Matlow, who make children's sweets. Famous brands include 'Parma Violets', 'Refresher' chews and 'Drumstick' lollies. Children from local schools were often asked to test new sweet flavours which were created!
A short branch of the Midland railway led to the town of Hayfield. This was dismantled and is now the Sett Valley Trail, which stetches for approximately three miles north-east of the town. New Mills sits atop 'The Torrs', a dramatic gorge through which the Rivers Goyt and Sett flow. Nestled in a bend of the Goyt is Torr Vale Mill, a Grade II* listed building. The area has been augmented by the Millennium Walkway, a bridge alongside the River Goyt, funded in part through National Lottery funds.
New Mills FC ('The Millers') are the local football team and play in the North West Counties League Division 2. The football ground at Church Lane boasts two pitches — one 'all weather' — and floodlights. New Mills Cricket Club, with their ground on Church Road, play in the Derbyshire and Cheshire League. There is a leisure centre, including a swimming pool, which opened in 1980. Until the early 1980s, the town held an annual cycle race.
[edit] Stations
New Mills is served by two stations. One is New Mills Central on the Hope Valley line. The other is New Mills Newtown on the Buxton Line. The presence of these stations serves as an interchange.
[edit] References
- This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain. Update as needed.
[edit] External links
Ceremonial county of Derbyshire  |
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| Unitary authorities: | Derby | |
| Boroughs/Districts: | Amber Valley • Bolsover • Chesterfield • Derbyshire Dales • Erewash • High Peak • North East Derbyshire • South Derbyshire | |
| Cities/Towns: | Alfreton • Ashbourne • Bakewell • Belper • Bolsover • Buxton • Chapel-en-le-Frith • Chesterfield • Clay Cross • Derby • Dronfield • Glossop • Heanor • Ilkeston • Killamarsh • Long Eaton • Matlock • New Mills • Ripley • Sandiacre • Shirebrook • Staveley • Swadlincote • Whaley Bridge • Wirksworth See also: List of civil parishes in Derbyshire |
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