New Mills

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There is also a New Mills in Monmouthshire, Wales.

Map sources for New Mills at grid reference SJ995855

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. 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.

Contents 1 History 2 Organisations 3 Sport and leisure 4 Transport 5 Trivia 6 References 7 External links

[edit] History

New Mills was formerly known as 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.

[edit] Organisations

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 Business and Enterprise 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. The company transferred to New Mills from London during the Blitz and has remained ever since[1]. 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! The Plain English Campaign has its headquarters in the town.

[edit] Sport and leisure

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.

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.

[edit] Transport

New Mills is served by two railway stations: New Mills Central on the Hope Valley line and New Mills Newtown on the Buxton Line, with through trains to Preston and Blackpool. The presence of these stations serves as an interchange. The main Manchester to Sheffield 'fast' line passes through New Mills but by-passes the stations. A short branch of the Midland railway once led to the village of Hayfield. This was dismantled in 1970 and is now the Sett Valley Trail, which stretches for approximately three miles north-east of the town.

The A6 road skirts the southwest of the town. The Peak Forest Canal passes through the town and there is a marina.

Market Street, New Mills

Torr Vale Mill, the River Goyt, Millennium Walkway and Hope Valley line

New Mills Town Hall (built 1871, clock tower added 1875)

[edit] Trivia

• A popular line at Half Man Half Biscuit gigs (taken from the song "The Light At The End Of The Tunnel (Is The Light On An Oncoming Train)" is "No frills, handy for the hills, that's the way you spell New Mills!". Contrary to the 'alternative' explanations given at the band's site, this was the catchphrase used by the unsuccessful 1980s advertising campaign trying to encourage people and businesses to relocate to New Mills when it was becoming a "commuter belt" town for Manchester (similar campaigns happened in other small towns at this time, such as "What's It Called? Cumbernauld!").^{[citation needed]}

[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

• New Mills Community website

Coordinates: 53.36637° N 2.00898° W