Todmorden Mills Heritage Site

Todmorden Mills Heritage Site is a collection of historic buildings and a gallery in Toronto’s Don River Valley, at 67 Pottery Road. The settlement began as an industrial site in the 1790s, and its restored buildings tell stories of Toronto’s past. Join a guided tour to see historic homes and learn about daily life; without a tour, access to some buildings is limited. The former paper mill houses art displays, and walking trails connect the site with its natural surroundings. Admission is free.

From mill settlement to heritage site

Todmorden Mills began as a lumber mill settlement in the 1790s, when the Don River was central to local industry. A brewery was built beside the mill in 1820. The settlement took its name from the English hometown of John Eastwood, one of the brewery’s original owners.

The site’s history spans more than its early industrial years. Its layers include an Indigenous waterway, a manufacturing centre and a prisoner-of-war camp. Today, the heritage buildings and the art and theatre spaces connect those different chapters of Toronto’s story.

Tours, buildings and art

Guided tours bring visitors into historic homes and explain how people lived in different periods, including the 1890s and 1940s. Tours are an important part of a visit: some buildings are closed to the public outside them. A 60-minute tour is listed at 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.; check current arrangements before setting out.

The former paper mill is used as an art gallery, with displays that have included work by the Don Mills Artists group. Information plaques around the grounds include audio clips. Walking trails lead through the surrounding area, while picnic tables offer a place to pause.