Award winning shopping village

Our History

The cotton weaving industry had humble beginnings in single roomed weavers’ cottages where, more than 300 years ago…

The cotton weaving industry had humble beginnings in single roomed weavers’ cottages where, more than 300 years ago, local weavers would spin yarn and weave calico cloth from raw cotton sold to them by a local farmer. Then in 1764, James Hargreaves, an ancestor on our family tree, triggered the start of the Industrial Revolution by inventing the Spinning Jenny. This escalated the cotton industry into vast productivity as the Spinning Jenny could now do the job of 8 spinners in keeping one weaver supplied with yarn. By the early 1800’s, hundreds of workers would stream through the doors of Moscow Mill into the clattering atmosphere of what is now The Weavers Court. Weaving was carried out continuously at Moscow Mill for more than 150 years until the early 1990’s when the globalisation of manufacturing caused the last weaving shed to close and Oswaldtwistle Mills to be born.

We have a wonderful photo in our archives showing excited Mill workers climbing onto ‘charabancs’ to take them on annual trips – the Mill and the community were closely linked and the owners keen to offer their workers fun times. History has come full circle; modern day Oswaldtwistle Mills now welcomes thousands of coaches a year. Last year we had 1,500,000 visitors through our doors! That’s a staggering figure and one we are very proud of.

 

 Oswaldtwistle Mills has been home to an Aladdin’s Cave of shopping treasures for 25 years now since we opened as one of the first Mill Shopping Villages in Lancashire. A lot has changed since those early days selling detergents and fabric remnants under our former guise of The Bubble Factory, but our modern-day Shopping Village and Garden Centre offers something different to amaze, charm and tempt on every visit.


Walk through our ever-expanding 120,000 feet of retail space and you’ll find all the gift inspiration you could ne The cotton weaving industry had humble beginnings in single roomed weavers’ cottages where, more than 300 years ago, local weavers would spin yarn and weave calico cloth from raw cotton sold to them by a local farmer. Then in 1764, James Hargreaves, an ancestor on our family tree, triggered the start of the Industrial Revolution by inventing the Spinning Jenny. This escalated the cotton industry into vast productivity as the Spinning Jenny could now do the job of 8 spinners in keeping one weaver supplied with yarn. By the early 1800’s, hundreds of workers would stream through the doors of Moscow Mill into the clattering atmosphere of what is now The Weavers Court. Weaving was carried out continuously at Moscow Mill for more than 150 years until the early 1990’s when the globalisation of manufacturing caused the last weaving shed to close and Oswaldtwistle Mills to be born. We have a wonderful photo in our archives showing excited Mill workers climbing onto ‘charabancs’ to take them on annual trips – the Mill and the community were closely linked and the owners keen to offer their workers fun times. History has come full circle; modern day Oswaldtwistle Mills now welcomes thousands of coaches a year. Last year we had 1,500,000 visitors through our doors! That’s a staggering figure and one we are very proud of.   Oswaldtwistle Mills has been home to an Aladdin’s Cave of shopping treasures for 25 years now since we opened as one of the first Mill Shopping Villages in Lancashire. A lot has changed since those early days selling detergents and fabric remnants under our former guise of The Bubble Factory, but our modern-day Shopping Village and Garden Centre offers something different to amaze, charm and tempt on every visit.   Walk through our ever-expanding 120,000 feet of retail space and you’ll find all the gift inspiration you could need: scented candles, arts and crafts supplies, sewing machines, contemporary furniture and home furnishings, lighting and an impressive range of clothes, shoes and accessories included: scented candles, arts and crafts supplies, sewing machines, contemporary furniture and home furnishings, lighting and an impressive range of clothes, shoes and accessories including many leading high-street brands, a colourful garden centre, a gourmet food deli and butchers, old fashioned sweet shop and more! And if all this retail therapy leaves you feeling peckish there’s plenty of choice – from the contemporary Cafe Nova to the relaxing Pavillion Coffee Shop and the chic Terrace Tea Room.

 

Intrigued by Oswaldtwistle Mill’s history? Visit the Heritage Centre, or find yourself drawn back into childhood by the scent of Stockley’s Sweet Shop. 

What really matters to us is that each of our visitors has a unique, enjoyable experience and we pride ourselves on our warm Lancashire welcome and excellent customer service. We are delighted to be a multi award winning destination and have been awarded the ‘Retail Tourism Award’ & ‘Best for Groups Award’  at the 2015 Lancashire Tourism Awards and were also a finalist in the 2016 Red Rose Awards in the ‘Family Business’ and ‘Retail Business’ categories. At the 2016 National Coach Tourism Awards we were also chosen as a finalist in the “Coach-Friendly Shopping Destination of the Year” category. We’re also accredited with Investors in People and have been awarded the Most Friendly UK Operator via Coach Tours UK.

Keeping up with tradition, Oswaldtwistle Mills is a community in itself – peopled by enthusiastic and hard working concession-owners and the staff who support them. Over the years we have welcomed a number of new concessions; a vibrant mixture of high profile stores and burgeoning family businesses. Recently these have included Bonmarché Ladieswear & Whittakers Schoolwear. Couple this with several new leading brands across Furniture and Accessories, Giftware, Clothing and in our Deli, and you really have a shopping experience that’s as individual as you are. All our concessions are glad to hear your feedback and share our enthusiasm.


In August 2019 we also expanded by opening a new furniture and interiors sister store and bistro – Loom Loft, located at Barrow Brook near Clitheroe.

However you choose to spend your time with us, we look forward to giving you a warm Lancashire Welcome at Oswaldtwistle Mills!

Oswaldtwistle Mills

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