Bancroft Mill Engine Museum
Source: http://www.bancroftmill.org.uk
Archived: 2026-04-23 15:30
Bancroft Mill Engine Museum
Skip to content
Our Next Steaming in 2026
Sunday May 3rd
Doors open 11am
Bancroft Mill
Engine Museum
Home to the largest working
Mill Steam Engine in Lancashire
Bancroft Weaving Shed closed in 1978 and the main shed was demolished shortly after to make way for housing.
The engine and steam plant were saved by local enthusiasts.
Our aim as a museum is to maintain a link to the town’s cotton heritage, by preserving and demonstrating the engine and associated machinery.
We hold
Steaming Days
between March and November.
On Steaming Days, you can see the 600hp cross-compound engine in operation. Built by William Roberts and Sons of Nelson, Lancs, in 1920.
Looms
In the weaving area we have three looms, one of which will be seen weaving our souvenir tea-towels.
Collection
Also on display is a large collection of artefacts from the weaving industry which brought so much employment to the region.
The displays are constantly being refreshed.
Other attractions
In a separate building we have a Smith and Eastwood Tandem-Compound engine, known as the Bradley Engine. This ran Peter Green’s Mill in Cross Lane, Bradley until 1978. The engine was moved to our site in pieces early this century and was rebuilt by the volunteers, It ran again for the first time on site in 2017, after taking ten years to reassemble and commission.
We have the original Lancashire boiler – now used as our water supply – and a
Cornish boiler, which we now use on Steaming Days.
There will also be a display of model engines running on compressed air, showing the skills of many Model Engineers.
Bancroft Mill Engine Museum
4.8
Based on 114 reviews
powered by
G
o
o
g
l
e
review us on
Steve Why
21:12 09 Nov 25
Try to visit on a steaming day , fabulous machinery in action, and the sounds !
Derek MacDougall
18:03 24 Oct 25
Fascinating insight into the cotton weaving industry in this area. Great to see the Mill Engines working. Really friendly, knowledgeable people.
Martyn Shaw
18:41 31 Aug 25
2 nice engines running on steam days. Tea and cake in the tea room. Friendly staff. Souvenir tea towels for sale. Well worth the entry fee.
Yvonne Holmes
09:09 19 Aug 25
If interested in steam and our industrial heritage worth a look. Lots of dedicated volunteers.
Mike Hazelton
15:31 09 Aug 25
Excellent. Very friendly and informative team and a fascinating view on local industrial heritage
Response from the owner
16:46 09 Aug 25
Thank you, Mike. Hopefully we'll see you at a steaming one day....at least you saw the boiler being fired up ready.
Christine Bedford
11:05 27 Jul 25
Really good visit to Bancroft Mill. Well worth a visit. The Museum is run by volunteers who are working in the different areas of the site. They are very helpful and explained how the Engines and pumps are maintained. There is a free car park at the side. Lots of information on displays around the buildings. There are open days when the pumps, engines are working. The next one on 10th August, 31st August. The mill is maintained through volunteers and donations. A good few hours out.
Response from the owner
16:48 09 Aug 25
Many thanks for the detailed review Christine. It's appreciated.Hopefully you'll be able to visit on a steaming day in the future.
anthony bowers
19:00 08 Apr 25
Very interesting ,and all run by volunteers and of coarse and donations , well worth the visit for all ages, called in on the Saturday (had a quick tour by Chris) told will be steaming tomorrow Sunday, so we visited again Sunday, the visit was great (also the tea and cakes)
Response from the owner
08:25 09 Apr 25
Hi Anthony, thank you for the great review. Two visits in one weekend ! You'll be volunteering here before you know it.
william riley
13:04 18 Mar 25
Runs by steam; dates on website. Volunteers were good. How to build a chimney and different bricks.
Response from the owner
07:42 07 Apr 25
Thanks William. We're improving our displays during this year so you'll see new attractions on a future visit.
Lynn Mills (scouse_mouse)
14:04 10 Mar 25
A lovely little steam museum. We were lucky enough to see their engines in steam. Cafe, gift shop and toilets onsite. Friendly and knowledgeable staff who are ready with a warm welcome.
Response from the owner
14:50 10 Mar 25
Thanks Lynn.We start our new steam season thjs Sunday 16th March and every third Sunday afternoon that. We hope to see you again.
Scouse Mouse
14:04 10 Mar 25
A lovely little steam museum. We were lucky enough to see their engines in steam. Cafe, gift shop and toilets onsite. Friendly and knowledgeable staff who are ready with a warm welcome.
Chris Hurlstone
08:11 10 Dec 24
Response from the owner
07:43 07 Apr 25
Thanks Chris, much appreciated.
Martyn Wrigg
19:18 14 Nov 24
Fantastic place to visit, though most openings are restricted to Saturday mornings, when volunteers come in to work on the machinery and museum. All the volunteers are very committed to the place, and are willing to share their knowledge with everyone who is interested. We enjoyed some detailed discussions about the Bradley engine (believed to be the only survivor of its type),
before seeing a demonstration of the weaving loom creating Bancroft Mill Tea Towels.
Response from the owner
21:39 25 Oct 24
Thanks for your wonderful review Martyn. Saturdays and Thursdays are when our volunteers are onsite keeping the engines and buildings maintained. Our steam days are every third Sunday with the next one, and penultimate one for this year on 3rd November.We're planning on new displays and features for next year so we hope you can make s return visit sometime.
G S
09:10 14 Oct 24
Engines, loom and skills being kept alive by keen volunteers! Cheap entry fees, tours and volunteers on hand to explain. Many visitors also seemed to have personal experiences they were sharing. Also nice cake in tea room and beautiful surroundings if you want a walk as well. Engine's running about two afternoons a month, see website.
Response from the owner
21:43 25 Oct 24
Thank you for your review. It's much appreciated.We've two more steam days this year before we have to paint the engines in oil to stop them going rusty but there's plenty more jobs to be done over winter.We hope to see you again sometime.
Stuart Rich
19:17 29 Oct 23
Had a lovely afternoon today at Bancroft Mill. It was fascinating to watch the volunteers preparing, start and run the engines. Go and visit try the refreshments and purchase a Bancroft Mill tea towel. Thank you to all the volunteers, you are all doing a fantastic job.
Andrew Milford
17:44 17 Jul 22
Had a lovely visit with the family. The volunteers are both knowledgeable and friendly. Helps brings our industrial heritage back to life. Definitely recommend. Cash only folks.
Contact Us
or telephone
07830 027081
07830 027081
Skip to content
Our Next Steaming in 2026
Sunday May 3rd
Doors open 11am
Bancroft Mill
Engine Museum
Home to the largest working
Mill Steam Engine in Lancashire
Bancroft Weaving Shed closed in 1978 and the main shed was demolished shortly after to make way for housing.
The engine and steam plant were saved by local enthusiasts.
Our aim as a museum is to maintain a link to the town’s cotton heritage, by preserving and demonstrating the engine and associated machinery.
We hold
Steaming Days
between March and November.
On Steaming Days, you can see the 600hp cross-compound engine in operation. Built by William Roberts and Sons of Nelson, Lancs, in 1920.
Looms
In the weaving area we have three looms, one of which will be seen weaving our souvenir tea-towels.
Collection
Also on display is a large collection of artefacts from the weaving industry which brought so much employment to the region.
The displays are constantly being refreshed.
Other attractions
In a separate building we have a Smith and Eastwood Tandem-Compound engine, known as the Bradley Engine. This ran Peter Green’s Mill in Cross Lane, Bradley until 1978. The engine was moved to our site in pieces early this century and was rebuilt by the volunteers, It ran again for the first time on site in 2017, after taking ten years to reassemble and commission.
We have the original Lancashire boiler – now used as our water supply – and a
Cornish boiler, which we now use on Steaming Days.
There will also be a display of model engines running on compressed air, showing the skills of many Model Engineers.
Bancroft Mill Engine Museum
4.8
Based on 114 reviews
powered by
G
o
o
g
l
e
review us on
Steve Why
21:12 09 Nov 25
Try to visit on a steaming day , fabulous machinery in action, and the sounds !
Derek MacDougall
18:03 24 Oct 25
Fascinating insight into the cotton weaving industry in this area. Great to see the Mill Engines working. Really friendly, knowledgeable people.
Martyn Shaw
18:41 31 Aug 25
2 nice engines running on steam days. Tea and cake in the tea room. Friendly staff. Souvenir tea towels for sale. Well worth the entry fee.
Yvonne Holmes
09:09 19 Aug 25
If interested in steam and our industrial heritage worth a look. Lots of dedicated volunteers.
Mike Hazelton
15:31 09 Aug 25
Excellent. Very friendly and informative team and a fascinating view on local industrial heritage
Response from the owner
16:46 09 Aug 25
Thank you, Mike. Hopefully we'll see you at a steaming one day....at least you saw the boiler being fired up ready.
Christine Bedford
11:05 27 Jul 25
Really good visit to Bancroft Mill. Well worth a visit. The Museum is run by volunteers who are working in the different areas of the site. They are very helpful and explained how the Engines and pumps are maintained. There is a free car park at the side. Lots of information on displays around the buildings. There are open days when the pumps, engines are working. The next one on 10th August, 31st August. The mill is maintained through volunteers and donations. A good few hours out.
Response from the owner
16:48 09 Aug 25
Many thanks for the detailed review Christine. It's appreciated.Hopefully you'll be able to visit on a steaming day in the future.
anthony bowers
19:00 08 Apr 25
Very interesting ,and all run by volunteers and of coarse and donations , well worth the visit for all ages, called in on the Saturday (had a quick tour by Chris) told will be steaming tomorrow Sunday, so we visited again Sunday, the visit was great (also the tea and cakes)
Response from the owner
08:25 09 Apr 25
Hi Anthony, thank you for the great review. Two visits in one weekend ! You'll be volunteering here before you know it.
william riley
13:04 18 Mar 25
Runs by steam; dates on website. Volunteers were good. How to build a chimney and different bricks.
Response from the owner
07:42 07 Apr 25
Thanks William. We're improving our displays during this year so you'll see new attractions on a future visit.
Lynn Mills (scouse_mouse)
14:04 10 Mar 25
A lovely little steam museum. We were lucky enough to see their engines in steam. Cafe, gift shop and toilets onsite. Friendly and knowledgeable staff who are ready with a warm welcome.
Response from the owner
14:50 10 Mar 25
Thanks Lynn.We start our new steam season thjs Sunday 16th March and every third Sunday afternoon that. We hope to see you again.
Scouse Mouse
14:04 10 Mar 25
A lovely little steam museum. We were lucky enough to see their engines in steam. Cafe, gift shop and toilets onsite. Friendly and knowledgeable staff who are ready with a warm welcome.
Chris Hurlstone
08:11 10 Dec 24
Response from the owner
07:43 07 Apr 25
Thanks Chris, much appreciated.
Martyn Wrigg
19:18 14 Nov 24
Fantastic place to visit, though most openings are restricted to Saturday mornings, when volunteers come in to work on the machinery and museum. All the volunteers are very committed to the place, and are willing to share their knowledge with everyone who is interested. We enjoyed some detailed discussions about the Bradley engine (believed to be the only survivor of its type),
before seeing a demonstration of the weaving loom creating Bancroft Mill Tea Towels.
Response from the owner
21:39 25 Oct 24
Thanks for your wonderful review Martyn. Saturdays and Thursdays are when our volunteers are onsite keeping the engines and buildings maintained. Our steam days are every third Sunday with the next one, and penultimate one for this year on 3rd November.We're planning on new displays and features for next year so we hope you can make s return visit sometime.
G S
09:10 14 Oct 24
Engines, loom and skills being kept alive by keen volunteers! Cheap entry fees, tours and volunteers on hand to explain. Many visitors also seemed to have personal experiences they were sharing. Also nice cake in tea room and beautiful surroundings if you want a walk as well. Engine's running about two afternoons a month, see website.
Response from the owner
21:43 25 Oct 24
Thank you for your review. It's much appreciated.We've two more steam days this year before we have to paint the engines in oil to stop them going rusty but there's plenty more jobs to be done over winter.We hope to see you again sometime.
Stuart Rich
19:17 29 Oct 23
Had a lovely afternoon today at Bancroft Mill. It was fascinating to watch the volunteers preparing, start and run the engines. Go and visit try the refreshments and purchase a Bancroft Mill tea towel. Thank you to all the volunteers, you are all doing a fantastic job.
Andrew Milford
17:44 17 Jul 22
Had a lovely visit with the family. The volunteers are both knowledgeable and friendly. Helps brings our industrial heritage back to life. Definitely recommend. Cash only folks.
Contact Us
or telephone
07830 027081
07830 027081