Stott Park Bobbin Mill

30/05/2026

Members' Event
Wednesday 27th May
English Heritage members enjoyed a special treat at Stott Park Bobbin Mill last Wednesday. Lake District woods were once alive with people managing the woodlands, making swill baskets, besoms (twig brooms), charcoal, and harvesting bark for the leather industry. The craft of swill basket making goes back 100s of years and is an endangered or 'Red Listed' heritage craft. Owen Jones is one of the few crafts people keeping this skill alive and we were thrilled to have him on site, demonstrating this skill to members. Anne, one of our volunteers, was on site and took these photographs. Owen told us about the history of swill basket making in the South Lakes and then went on to demonstrate how he makes the baskets. We also got a brief glimpse of besom making, rush hat making and oak bark peeling.
Find out more about the benefits of English Heritage membership, click the link: https://bit.ly/43IVigd

22/05/2026

Can't make the steam days this Sunday and Monday? Holidaying in the Lake District over half term? Stott Park Bobbin Mill is open on Thursday 28 May, also Thursday 4 June. Book a guided tour and find out how bobbins underpinned the cotton industry in Lancashire, and provided reels for cotton thread. Our guides operate Stott's heritage lathes to demonstrate bobbin manufacturing. Wood flies and a bobbin appears. On site we also have a lovely coppiced woodland walk and a fun family trail. Book your tour, one of four per day, just click here:
https://shorturl.at/tmeKY

16/05/2026

May Bank Holiday Steam!

Sunday 24 May, and Monday 25 May Stott will be open and the Bradley of Brighouse steam engine will be operating on both days. Come and hear how quietly this beautiful steam engine runs. There are 4 guided tours each day, please book to avoid disappointment. The wood will fly as your guide turns a piece of coppiced wood into a bobbin, using machines dating back over 100 years. Hear about the workers at Stott from the industrial age of the Lake District, and take a wander around this beautiful site, add the free family trail for your young explorers.

Click here and choose your tour, either 10.30, 11.30, 13.30 or 14.30 https://shorturl.at/KYa5w

11/05/2026

Holidaying in the Lake District this week, or visiting the area on Thursday 14th May? Why not book a guided tour of Stott Park Bobbin Mill? Come and find out about the industry that underpinned the manufacturing of cotton cloth in Lancashire. Cumbria was the place to make bobbins as there was plenty of water power and coppiced woodland. On Thursday there will be four tours, starting at 10.30am. The machines will be running and your guide will not only talk about the history of bobbin making, but will also demonstrate the process using our heritage machinery. Come and watch the wood fly! Book your tour by clicking the link:
https://shorturl.at/LlM6w

25/04/2026

May Day Bank Holiday

Stott is open Sunday 3rd May and Monday 4th May, and the wonderful Bradley steam engine will be running on both days. Book one of 4 guided tours on each day, see the wood fly as your guide operates our heritage machinery, transforming a piece of coppiced wood into a bobbin. Find out about the people of Stott and the industries of the Lake District, and enjoy a wander around this beautiful site, including our family trail. Click here and choose your tour, either 10.30, 11.30, 13.30 or 14.30 https://shorturl.at/KYa5w

08/04/2026

Holidaying in the Lake district, looking for something different? Stott Park Bobbin Mill is open tomorrow, Thursday 9 April. Book online and join one of 4 guided tours, during the day, starting at 10.30 am. On our tours you get to experience the industrial side of the Lake District. Millions of bobbins were once produced here, making use of coppiced wood and initially the power of water. On a tour our guides operate machines and magically reshape a piece of wood into a bobbin.
Click here to book your place: https://shorturl.at/5379I For families we also have Bob's adventure trail.
Can't make this week? We are also open Sunday 19 April, please use the same link to book.

30/03/2026

Easter opening
Stott will be open with steam for guided tours on Saturday 4th, Sunday 5th and Monday 6th April. We are open 10am until 4pm, and there will be 4 tours per day. To book please visit our website. Check our website and here on Facebook for more dates throughout the year.

19/01/2026

It's almost time. Take part in this important Citizen Science with the RSPB this weekend. It only takes an hour! Grab a cuppa and unwind in a favourite spot outside whilst you record the visiting birds 🐦 Then record your results online. Follow the link to find out more:

© The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is a registered charity: England and Wales no. 207076, Scotland no. SC037654

02/01/2026

Happy New Year from the team of staff and volunteers at Stott Park Bobbin Mill. A huge thank you to all our visitors in 2025. We look forward to welcoming visitors past and future in 2026. Keep checking our website and this page for our opening dates, and information on how to book your visit.

09/12/2025

Join us on 14th December (10am – 3pm) as we celebrate Christmas at Stott Park Bobbin Mill.

Book now for one of four guided tours of the mill https://shorturl.at/12fVY

Come and enjoy the festivities with a mulled cider and a mince pie.

There will be fun for all the family. Weave a willow Christmas decoration or learn how to use a bobbin for festive French knitting.

There will be hand-crafted Christmas gifts for sale. See you there! 🎄