Todmorden Mills
67 Pottery Rd
Toronto, ON M4K 1Z7
416-396-2819
Todmorden Mills was a small settlement located in the Don River valley, and one of the first in that area. It started out as a lumber mill in the late 18th century. It grew into a small industrial complex and village before becoming part of East York in the 20th century. The facilities that existed on the land provided early residents of Toronto with all of their lumber, paper, flour, bricks, whiskey and beer.
In 1795, the settlement of York (now Toronto) in Upper Canada was a small but growing community on the shores of Lake Ontario. In need of construction material, Lieutenant-Governor John Graves Simcoe granted land on the Don River to Aaron and Isaiah Skinner for the purpose of building a mill to supply lumber.
The community was initially known as Don Mills but by the 1820s was renamed Todmorden. The name originated from a recently settled Helliwell family who were from Todmorden, a town in England. The area of Todmorden Mills started slowly developing with a newly built lumber mill, a distillery and a brewery which was built in 1820.
In 1825, William Lyon Mackenzie resident of the Mackenzie House and publisher of the Colonial Advocate newspaper, petitioned the government to offer a cash prize to the first person to establish a paper mill in Upper Canada. John Eastwood and Colin Skinner, residents of Todmorden, opened a paper mill on the Don and imported papermaking equipment from the United States. This paper mill became the first machine-made paper produced in Upper Canada.
The mill continued to operate until the 1920s when the building was converted into a riding stable. Over the years the area had become a small the location of a small German prisoner of war camp, as well as home to several horse riding schools.
On May 22, 1967 it was opened as the Todmorden Mills Historic Site and started to function as a community museum. Currently the museum maintains four buildings from the original settlement including the old mill and brewery. Daily tours, seminars and group packages outline the mill’s role in Toronto’s development and also the impact of the city’s growth on the natural environment.
January – March
Please call to confirm Papermill Gallery hours
April – May
Wednesday – Friday
Noon – 4:30 p.m.
Weekends
Noon – 5 p.m.
June – August
Tuesday ? Friday
10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Weekends
Noon – 5 p.m.
September – December
Wednesday ? Friday
Noon – 4:30 p.m.
Weekends
Noon – 4 p.m.
Statutory Holidays
Closed
Directions and Map to Todmorden Mills
By Car
From the east: Take Danforth west to Broadview. Turn right at Bayview and continue north to Pottery Road. Turn left and travel down to the foot of Pottery Road. Todmorden Mills is located on the left.
From the west: Take Bloor Street east (becomes Danforth east of viaduct). Continue east to Broadview. Turn left at Broadview. Travel down to foot of Pottery Road. Mills are on the left.
From the north: Take the Don Valley Parkway south to the Bloor/Bayview exit and follow Bayview Avenue North exit. Take Bayview north to Pottery Road. Turn right and the Mills are on the right hand side.
From the south: Take the Don Valley Parkway north to Bloor/Bayview exit. Follow the same directions as above.
By Public Transit
Take the Bloor / Danforth subway to Broadview station. Board any northbound bus to Mortimer Avenue. Cross Broadview to west side of street and walk down Pottery Road.
Map of Todmorden Mills Location
Email: todmorden at toronto.ca
Phone: 416-396-2819
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Filed Under: Museums