Waters Corp – a good neighbour to Quarry Bank

Main image Ciara and Liam Stead

A company at the forefront of science innovation has invested in a project that will bring industrial achievements of the past back to life.

Waters Corporation has given £10,000 to Quarry Bank’s project, which will complete the story of an early Industrial Revolution community for the benefit of thousands of people who visit the National Trust property every year.

“We are delighted to have the opportunity to become a sponsor of Quarry Bank,” said Brian Smith, Vice President of Mass Spectrometry Business Operations at Waters.

“Not only is the mill a close neighbour, but it also is a fantastic opportunity for us to partner with an organisation that brings both science and history to life.

“Waters is a strong advocate for the promotion of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths subjects, which are brought to life at Quarry Bank through their stories of power, technology, engineering and innovation.”

Waters Corporation is a scientific laboratory instrument and software manufacturer, which employs more than 500 people in Wilmslow.

To mark the partnership Waters’ staff attended a family day at Quarry Bank when more than 150 people explored the mill, built bird boxes and created rain makers.

The photographs featured were taken during the day while the children were working with rangers from the Styal estate..

Eleanor Underhill, General Manager at Quarry Bank, welcomed the support of a prominent local business: “We really appreciate this sponsorship from Waters, which is going to make a big difference to our fundraising efforts,” she said.

“We still have some way to go before all the money is raised, but donations such as this really inspire us to continue working hard towards the final goal.”

The Quarry Bank project aims to reopen buildings such as a worker’s cottage and a shop that was at the heart of the Styal community during the 1800s.

Gardens and an 1830s glasshouse will be restored to their former glories whilst Quarry Bank House – where many members of the Greg family who built and owned the mill lived – will be opened to visitors.

The mill itself will be refreshed and new events, exhibitions and activities run throughout the year to help visitors explore Quarry Bank’s stories.

Restoration work will take four years and when complete will give visitors an even better impression of what life was like for people at the heart of the Industrial Revolution.

Brian Smith, of Waters, added: “As part of this sponsorship we look forward to growing our relationship with Quarry Bank and working with them to explore new ways of developing more diverse STEM programmes at the mill.”

• A £1.9million public appeal to help complete the Quarry Bank restoration is ongoing with £750,000 left to raise. There are also more opportunities for local businesses to support the project. To find out how you can help go to www.nationaltrust.org.uk/quarry-bank