Having won the competitive tender last month, the project will be supported with £3.9m funding from the HLF. Work is due to begin in 2016 over a number of phases, and it is estimated that the overall scheme will not be completed until 2019.
The main focus of the project is to bring the whole story of Quarry Bank back to life, sharing more of its community which includes the mill, a farm, a village and the homes and workplaces of the owner, mill manager, workers and apprentices. Few other sites of comparable significance are as complete or as untouched.
Mather & Co will revolutionise the visitor experience, enabling visitors to follow and engage with new stories around the site and play on the contrasts found between this rich industrial architecture nestled within the natural landscape.
“We are extremely delighted to have been commissioned by both the National Trust and Quarry Bank Mill for such a fantastic project, particularly as this will be the first National Trust project we’ve undertaken,” said Chris Mather, Managing Director at Mather & Co.
“With a strong portfolio of diverse projects, Mather & Co is well equipped to handle a project of scale, particularly describing the historical significance and story of the site, which is still integral to the area and community today.”
The redevelopment will also include the construction of a welcome building and orientation point to introduce guests to the site and help them tailor their visit according to their particular interests, in addition to new and improved interpretation across the site.
Amanda Lunt, Project Manager at Quarry Bank Mill, said: “Quarry Bank Mill has always been at the heart of the community, and it was essential that we found a team that could capture the spirit of the site and truly portray the wonderful story behind it. Mather & Co’s unique concept really resonated with us, and we’re confident that the end result will be fantastic.”
The project will also help transform the volunteering offer at Quarry Bank Mill by creating 21 new volunteer roles, helping to build a sustainable community programme beyond the project and change perceptions of Quarry Bank Mill as a whole.
