THEY were vital cogs in the wheel that helped transform Britain during the Industrial Revolution.

Now Quarry Bank is to throw the spotlight on the lives of the pauper children who worked at the mill during the 1800s in a fascinating talk by archive and collections manager Ally Tsilika, on September 16.

‘Rights of the Child’ is part of ‘Festivals and Freedoms’ – a national series of events celebrating anniversaries such as the sealing of the Magna Carta, which paved the way for the emergence of the House of Commons.

“We will tell the story of the mill children through personal belongings and original written records from Quarry Bank’s archive,” said Ally.

“It will provide a poignant insight into their rights and the reality of their daily lives.”

Quarry Bank was built in 1784 and today is one of Britain’s most complete industrial heritage sites.

It helped power the Industrial Revolution and a key factor of its success was the use of pauper apprentice children who were brought from workhouses as far away as Hackney, to a new life far from home.

Depositions from children who ran away, indentures and other original records have helped archivists and historians piece together what life was like for the children working in one of the world’s first factories.

Ally, a former student of archaeology, who has a masters degree in the care of collections and conservation, is the guardian of all the stories and items within this globally significant heritage site.

She is currently directing work which will lead to the digitisation of the archive as part of a £9.8million project, which will transform Quarry Bank over the next four years.

“Our archives provide a really detailed idea of what life was like for these pauper children,” said Ally. “They didn’t have it easy and some real characters emerge from the stories that we have uncovered.”

The free talk is on September 16, starting at 7pm.

Find out more by calling 01625 527468, email quarrybankmill@nationaltrust.org.uk or go to www.nationaltrust.org.uk/quarry-bank