Explore Lancashire’s rich industrial history

During the Industrial Revolution, Lancashire, in northwest England, was one of the most important and wealthy places in the world. 

The mighty wooden waterwheel at Helmshore Mills Textile Museum shows how nature was harnessed to turn raw cotton into thread. At Queen Street Mill Museum the steam engine ‘Peace’ powers the last surviving steam powered mill in the world, spinning the cotton into fabric. Both mills have starred as TV and film locations, including in Oscar-winner ‘The Kings Speech’. 

The wealth generated from the production of cotton resulted in a variety of unique collections of art and artefacts. Europe’s largest collection of Tiffany Glass can be found at the Haworth Art Gallery, while Blackburn Museum houses a treasure trove of quirky objects. 

Blackburn Museum is around 30 miles (48 km) from either Lancaster or Manchester, both of which are just over 2 hours by train from London.

Content provided by Visit Lancashire