On the summit of a hill within half a mile of the town is Beard
Hall, now a farmhouse. The Beard family lived there more than 800
years ago and the building used to cover the whole plot of land
now containing the farm buildings. Just across the hillside are
the remains of Ollersett Hall which was owned by the non-conformist
Bradbury family for 400 years. Thornsett Hall may still be seen
with its big stone buttresses, although the hall was converted into
cottages and a public house and the public road runs through the
former courtyard
The Victorian era brought new buildings to New Mills, bringing to
mind days of the nineteenth century. The Town Hall looks over much
of the town from the top of Market Street and its building costs
were raised entirely by public subscription. Originally called the
public hall it was opened in 1871 by the Duke of Devonshire. The
tower was added in 1875 and the clock and chimes installed. The
library was added in 1910 when New Mills was one of the smallest
towns in Derbyshire to operate a free library service.
The parish church of New Mills, was built in 1831 of local stone
in the ‘Pointed’ style. Many of the windows of the church
are filled with stained glass and much of the interior is the work
of local craftsmen.
The Chapel of Ease, dedicated to St James the Less, and the almshouses
to which it is attached were erected in 1880 and occupy two sides
of a quadrangular plot of land near Spring Bank.
The Roman Catholic Church of St Mary’s erected in 1845 stands
on a prominent position in High Lee.
At one time the wealth of non-conformist chapels in the area were
a local stronghold for the religious revivalism of the 18th and
19th centuries. Many of these have now been demolished. Surviving
Methodist chapels are at Brookbottom (1874) and at Lowleighton (1955)
which replaced the original chapel which was destroyed by enemy
air action in 1942. The former Methodist Sunday School (1844) in
High Street is now used for worship by the Christian Revival Church.
The oldest known place of worship in New Mills is the former Society
of Friends Meeting House at Lowleighton which dates back to 1717
- which was sold and converted into a house in 1992.
The adjacent Hare and Hounds Hotel at Lowleighton is an excellent
example of early 19th century building work.
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