Oxbow Trail and Todmorden Mills

Today Dad and I went to Todmorden Mills and we also walked along the Oxbow Trail.

This is a view of the outside of the mill.
It's an art gallery and theatre now.

We walked along the Oxbow Trail first.
We got to see these views of the Don River.

It must be nice out here in the spring and summer when the flowers are blooming.

I liked the way this hollowed out tree trunk looked.

When they first settled the site it must have been convenient to have the river right here. They probably chose to settle here because of the river.

I don't know what this plant is. If you know could you please let me know in the comments section.

Here's a picture of a wooden bridge across a creek.

 This plaque tells a little bit about the history of the site.

 Here's another view of the mill.

We joined the tour when they were in this house.

It had a small, modest dining room.

This is the master bedroom.

They would cook over the open fire in the kitchen.

This is a view of the Helliwell House.
They had a brewery and distillery.

 Here's a view looking into the parlour.

This is a picture of Thomas Helliwell who owned the house and the brewery.
He sold beer to Fort York. He got it there by shallow bottom boat or by cart. It would take 8 hours to get it from Todmorden Mills to Fort York by cart!

They would keep the sugar loaf brought up from the West Indies in the window. Only the wealthy could afford sugar so they'd put it in the window to show off to their neighbours.

The black chairs were designed for women to sit down in their hoop skirts without letting their ankles show.

 I got to look in the stereo-scope. I think the picture I got to look at was taken in Japan.

They had rope beds in the bedroom.

They had this coal stove in the kitchen. It must have been much easier than cooking on an open fire.

They are in the process of refurbishing the historic houses of Todmorden Mills and it will probably be very different when I go back again.