Richard Arkwright - Cromford Mill

I'm fascinated by history, by the great things people have achieved and by the stories they have left behind. While I type this I immediately think back to one of my trips to Australia, I had been researching the history of that great land and knew that I had to visit Botany Bay where Captain James Cook first landed on saturday 28 April 1770. As I sat there alone by the water's edge at La Perouse in deep thought I could just picture the ships out in the bay... Thankfully back in blighty if I want to experience some great historic sites I don't have to travel so far, there is a local landmark that has world wide significance right on my door step. The place I'm talking about is Cromford Mill that was built by the legendary father of industry Sir Richard Arkwright, just 1 year after that famous Captain landed in Australia.

[caption id="attachment_1881" align="alignnone" width="600"] Sir Richard Arkwright's Mill Number 2 at Cromford[/caption]

I feel ashamed to say that as I live so close to this great place I have passed it bye many many times, I never really gave it a thought when I was younger and I do regret that now. Cromford Mill is a very popular place for local schools to visit, sadly I missed out on that trip as I had moved for one year to a small village near Stocksbridge in Sheffield at the time. I really should have visited before, like I say I had passed so many times and kept telling myself I would stop one day for a look. Today, I decided it was high time to come and learn some of the great history this place holds.

[caption id="attachment_1882" align="alignnone" width="600"] Sir Richard Arkwright's Mill Number 1 at Cromford[/caption]

I knew about Sir Richard Arkwright, how could I not. The history lessons at school covered him in great detail, I must admit it was great to finally be stood inside the court yard of the place this great man created. The weather today was perfect, a fresh autumnal morning and the sun was casting a great light over the area. I walked to stand beside the watercourse and recorded an AudioBoo.

listen to ‘Cromford Mill - Sir Richard Arkwright’ on Audioboo

So here are the facts. Cromford Mill was the first water-powered cotton spinning mill developed by Mr Arkwright. The power of the water from Bonsal Brook and Cromford Sough were harnessed to power his patented Water Frame. The patent was later over turned as it was found that the design was sold to him by a gentleman called John Kay, a clock maker and mechanic who had helped Thomas Highs build the original invention of the water frame. It was Arkwright however who made the system work and housed it in Mill number one in 1771 creating the worlds first factory. A second larger mill was built at Cromford between 1776 and 1777.

[caption id="attachment_1883" align="alignnone" width="600"] Steve Messam's "Twisted" in Number 1 Mill at Cromford[/caption]

The Mill buildings have seen many uses over the years, Water shortages began to become a problem in the second half of the 19th century so they were diversified. One housed a laundry, others a brewery, then the site was eventually sold on to a company who produced colour pigment for paint. Thankfully however, the entire site is now owned by the Arkwright Society. They have set themselves the task of returning it to its former glory to provide an educational resource and to preserve this great historic place. They have stripped away some of the newer buildings that were not part of the original plan and you can find out more on their great website at http://www.arkwrightsociety.org.uk/. They have done such a great job that the site has been recognised by UNESCO and is now part of the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site.

[caption id="attachment_1884" align="alignnone" width="600"] Steve Messam's "Twisted" in Number 1 Mill at Cromford[/caption]

Inside Mill number one there is currently an Art installation that was designed by Steve Messam and is called "Twisted". It is 70,000 metres of Red polyester thread, 2 frames at either end of the building are connected by thousands of red thread and it twists half way down. It looks like some kind of vortex as you look down the centre towards the other side of the Mill.

listen to ‘Cromford Mill - Inside Mill Number 1 Built In 1771’ on Audioboo

Inside Mill number 2 which was finished in 1777 there is a room which houses a great exhibition/museum of facts about the history of Mr Arkwright and his work along the Derwent Valley. It was great to wander around and learn some great facts and fill in some of the blanks in my knowledge about the man and his work. For some reason I had always thought the mill had been powered by the River Derwent but thankfully that miss information was corrected here today, As I mentioned earlier it was actually powered by Cromford Sough and Bonsal Brook... You Learn something new every day, which is the way I like it :-)

[caption id="attachment_1885" align="alignnone" width="600"] The Original Mill Bell from 1771[/caption]

I'm so pleased I visited today, after walking the Derwent Valley Heritage Way and my walk last week from Cromford to Via Gellia I knew I had to visit the Mills. If you haven't visited I would highly recommend you go and you can find more information over at http://www.arkwrightsociety.org.uk/, http://www.derwentvalleymills.org/ and http://www.cromfordmill.co.uk/.

Peak District - Cromford & Via Gellia

The Peak District has a wealth of routes to take, interesting spots to see and has historical tales by the bucket load. I do feel lucky to live within a close proximity of this great national park and I'm reminded how lucky I am on a regular basis. The area I have frequented the most over the years is the eastern peak, Bakewell, Chatsworth and Matlock. I have many happy memories that are burned in my mind in these scenic spots and new entries are being added all the time.

[caption id="attachment_1851" align="alignnone" width="600"] Sir Richard Arkwright's Mill number 1 built in 1771[/caption]

Although not officially in the National Park the area around Matlock, Matlock Bath and Cromford are places I have spent the most time. There is plenty to do and see around there. Cycling the High Peak Trail, ride the cable car to the Heights of Abraham, do a spot of climbing at Black Rocks or take in the historic Cromford Mill.

[caption id="attachment_1854" align="alignnone" width="600"] Cromford Mill Buildings from Mill Lane[/caption]

Cromford Mill which was built by the Legendary Sir Richard Arkwright was the starting point for today's walk. He built the first mill way back in 1771 and he became the Farther of the industrial Revolution. From the Mill Car Park (Proceeds go to the Arkwright Society) we then headed up to the cross roads in Cromford itself, We crossed the road and walked up past the Greyhound Hotel which was built by Richard Arkwright in 1778. After passing the Inn you then walk past the Workers Cottages which are also sites of historic interest. We joined the footpath which runs at the back of the house and continued to climb out of the valley.



We climbed up hill towards Black Rocks, joined the High Peak Trail and then followed it until we came to the bottom of the Middleton Incline. The Middleton Incline is a 1 in 8 slope where the trucks with their loads were pulled up to Middleton Top. They were taken on this voyage while being dragged upwards by a beam engine built by the Butterley Company in 1829. I once hid a Geocache up here but sadly it is long gone :-).

[caption id="attachment_1856" align="alignnone" width="600"] Middleton Top[/caption]

We continued along the High Peak Trail after a brief stop to check if the cafe was open at Middleton Top, sadly it wasn't so we had to make do without caffeine :-)

[caption id="attachment_1857" align="alignnone" width="600"] Middleton Top[/caption]

I haven't been along the High Peak Trail for a few years and if I'm completely honest I'd forgotten about Hopton Tunnel. It's only a very short tunnel but still impressive and it reminded me of being in the very similar ones on the Monsal Trail.

[caption id="attachment_1858" align="alignnone" width="600"] High Peak Trail - Hopton Tunnel[/caption]

After passing through Hopton Tunnel we made our way along towards Harboro Rocks, another spot I visited over a decade ago in search of a Geocache. It wasn't long before we were leaving the High Peak Trail and heading northward on the Limestone Way to Grangemill.



We walked over the fields while getting a great view down into the valley at Via Gellia, I'd not seen it from this angle before as last time I was here I was in low cloud. We descended down to Grangemill, crossed the road and then climbed back up a steep path towards the road that leads to Ible. Ible is a sleepy little farm hamlet, it's a lovely peaceful area and I can imagine not a lot of traffic comes through here. Great looking stone farm buildings, cattle being drive down the road and it looked to me like it could have been straight out of BBC Radio 4's The Archers :-)



After you pass through Ible the Limestone Way goes back across fields again as it works its way across to Bonsal. I think I lost count of the amount of gates we went through, its small field after small field across the moor here.

We eventually turned off the Limestone Way and headed along the path which takes you through the old Bonsall Mines. It's a fascinating spot with some great history. Hundreds of little sunken holes that look like bomb blast pits. They are however old disused Lead mine shafts dating back around 150-200 years. The site itself is called Fool's Venture and you can find a great run down of what is at the site by looking at this PDF from the Peak District Mines Historical Society Newsletter. To find out more about Mines in the Peak visit http://www.pdmhs.com



After the mine field we descended down towards Slaley, once again we found another idyllic High Peak village. It is a small group of houses perched on the hillside with great views across the valley. There looked to be some fantastic houses here, they would require a lottery win I think to be able to afford one.


We eventually arrived down in Bonsall, turned right down towards the Via Gellia Road and came out at the old Mill building. A short wander down the road and we then crossed over the river near Slinter Cottage, it is owned by the Arkwright Society and you can find out more details there website at http://www.arkwrightsociety.org.uk/content/slinter-cottage-details.

listen to ‘Peak District - Cromford & Richard Arkwright ’ on Audioboo

After a nice wander through the woods following Bonsall Brook we arrived back in Cromford. We passed the Mill Pond, rounded the corner, crossed near the Greyhound Inn and then crossed the A6 to walk back to the car near Arkwright Mill / Cromford Canal.

A great little afternoon wander that takes in some great historical parts of this corner of the Peak District. I have since been back and paid a visit to Cromford Mill so keep and eye out for my blog post from there. Thanks for stooping by :-)