Sir Richard Arkwrights Cromford Mill
The Arkwright Society is creating a living celebration of Sir Richard Arkwright’s far reaching impact with the construction of the world’s first successful water powered cotton spinning mill at Cromford in 1771. The Society is a registered charity primarily concerned with education, the conservation of the industrial heritage of this part of Derbyshire and improving the environment. The Cromford Mill site has restaurants, shops, exhibitions, and a varied programme of events. The Society owns and manages other sites in the area.
Cromford Mill, the world’s first successful water powered cotton spinning mill, was built in 1771 by Sir Richard Arkwright. From then until around 1790, he continued to develop the mills, warehouses and workshops, which now form the Cromford Mills site. Considered as a whole it presents a remarkable picture of an early textile factory complex.
It was generally believed the mills had reached the end of their useful life and must be demolished – all of the key buildings had fallen into disrepair and many of the historic features of the site, including the principal watercourse, had been obliterated by modern development. So degraded had the site become that the Local Authorities believed it had lost too much of its original integrity that it was no longer historically important.
It was not until the modern buildings had been cleared away and new historical and archaeological research had been completed that the true value of the site was recognised. This reappraisal led to an upgrading of the listing and the entire site now enjoys Grade I status and is part of the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site.
VISITORS INFORMATION:
Opening Hours
9am to 5pm throughout the year (closed on Christmas Day)
Admission and Car Parking
Admission to the site is free. As a contribution towards the running costs of the Society, there is a modest charge for car parking ('Pay & Display').
Individual Members of the Society park free of charge provided they display the annual parking permits which are issued to them.
The Mill Tour (Duration approx. 1 hour)
This includes an introduction, a tour of the main mill complex and exhibition. These tours normally take place at set times most days. Please call the above number to check what is available for your planned visit.
Charges (per person per hour): Adults £3.00. Children and Concessions £2.50
The Village Tour (Duration approx. 1 hour)
Cromford village, the factory community built by Sir Richard Arkwright and his son Richard Arkwright Junior, including the Market Place, workers’ housing, the Lock Up and the mill water courses. Places for this tour must be booked in advance.
Charges (per person per hour): Adults £3.00.Children and Concessions £2.50
The Combined Tour (Duration approx. 2 hours)
Both of the above.
Places for this tour must be booked in advance
Charges: Adults £5.00. Concessions £4.00
Getting to Us
Road and rail connections from near and far
Cromford stands on the A6, 17 miles north of Derby. It is within easy reach of the M1 - about 20 minutes – and is on a fast route linking Nottingham and Derby to Buxton, Stockport and Manchester.
You can view the locations of Cromford Mill, Lumsdale, Slinter Woodland, the Cromford Venture Centre and Dunsley Meadows on this map. This also shows the location of the nearest railway stations. If you adjust the scale of the map, you can also see the location of nearby bus stops.
By train: there is a regular service between Derby and Matlock which stops at Cromford. The trains are operated by East Midlands Trains.
By bus: there are two services from Derby, the TransPeak and the 6.1, both operated by Trent Barton,
Address:
The Arkwright Society
Cromford Mill
Mill Lane
Cromford, Matlock
Derbyshire
DE4 3RQ