Styal schoolchildren wore grubby faces, tatty smocks and solemn expressions as mill apprentices for the launch of a £1.4m fundraising appeal at Quarry Bank Mill.

The kids played their part among the looms at the former cotton mill to portray the hardship of hundreds of young apprentices who worked at the cotton mill in its heyday.

Their stories will be retold as part of a massive expansion project at the National Trust property – and the trust is appealing for money to get it going.

The project launch was not the first time youngsters from the village school have been involved with the mill – with a school plot in the garden at the property.

And Styal will soon play a bigger role at Quarry Bank, with plans to bring a historic village shop and worker’s cottage back to life as part of the attraction.

The mill helped drive the Industrial Revolution between the 1780s and 1920s and was at the heart of cotton production in the region.

The appeal’s goal is to complete its restoration and will include repairing Victorian glasshouses, opening up the Northern Woods and transforming Quarry Bank House. The total cost is £6m and the project is expected to take five years.

Eleanor Underhill, general manager, said:  “Quarry Bank Mill is an extraordinary place that captures a precious time in this country’s history.

“Through this appeal we want to be able to share its deep history and personal stories with millions.

“We will be inviting volunteers and local communities to help restore key parts of Quarry Bank and develop their own restoration and conservation skills.

“Quarry Bank is a magical place but we have so much more to do to complete the jigsaw and can’t do this without funds.”

Samuel Greg established the mill in 1784 and soon built housing to attract workers and established the village.

The National Trust acquired the estate in 1939 and it was opened to the public in 1958.

Now 130,000 people visit each year, with more than 30,000 school visitors.

But many original features remain unrestored, along with archives and records of the family, workers and children which are not yet available to the public.

Jane Speller, archive and collections officer, said:  “Some work has been done but being able to digitise material will really help in discovering the full extent of what we have in this amazing collection.”

To make a donation visit nationaltrust.org.uk/quarrybankappeal or call 01625 527468.