The mighty weir at Arkwright's Masson Mills
Sunset Richard Arkwright's Masson Mills, Derwent Valley Mills
Heritage working looms, Masson Mills Museum & Mill Tour Matlock Bath
Arkwright's Mill at Cromford
St Mary's Church in Cromford, built by Arkwright and opened 1797. The church contains the Arkwright family vaults.
High Peak Junction, beginning of The High Peak Trail following the old Cromford & High Peak RailwayCromford just to the south of Matlock Bath is the site of the textile magnate Richard Arkwright's famous textiles village. Cromford Mill, St Mary's Church and various millworker cottages in Cromford were all constructed by Richard Arkwright. Cromford Mill dates from 1771. For visitors exploring the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site trail from Derby to Matlock Bath, Cromford is essential viewing. The Cromford Canal, built to connect the south side of the Peak District with the Erewash Canal around Long Eaton dates from the 1790s.
» Find Accommodation in Matlock Bath
Visitors can also connect to the High Peak Trail from High Peak Junction near Cromford. This popular White Peak Trail follows the line of the old Cromford and High Peak Railway. A number of precious railway workshops, now all restored, can be seen around High Peak Junction. Not to be missed too is the Leawood Pumphouse alongside the Cromford Canal, Still working, the Leawood Pumphouse dates from 1849 and can still lift a mighty 4 tonnes of water from the river Derwent to the Cromford Canal.
Matlock Bath and Cromford are located at the end of the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site, a trail containing some of Britain's most spectacular heritage mills, fascinating industrial heritage linked to the textile trade and famous names like the early textiles entrepreneurs Richard Arkwright and Jedediah Strutt. The Derwent Valley Mills heritage trail pushes all the way up from Derby and the Silk Mill and Derby Museum through Belper, Ambergate and via the Cromford Canal to Cromford and Matlock Bath. Featuring all the way along the trail is the spectacular River Derwent, a source of power for all the heritage mills en-route in the past.
At Matlock Bath is Richard Arkwright's showpiece mill, the mammoth Masson Mills, one of the best preserved cotton spinning mills in Britain dating from 1783. Cromford is Richard Arkwright's famous mill village, full of mill workers' cottages and the magnificent Cromford Mill, the world's first successful water powered cotton spinning mill built by Arkwright between 1771 and 1791. These historic sites represent the birthplace of the factory system - the first modern factories. Other heritage sites at Cromford include St Mary's Church opened in 1797 and built by Arkwright. The church contains the Arkwright family vaults and features stained glass by the Victorian artist A.O.Hemming.
The Cromford Canal was built in the late 1790s and was constructed to connect the southern side of the Peak District with the Erewash Canal at Long Eaton. The Cromford Canal today is a haven for wildlife and plants. Read the full history of the Cromford Canal via The Friends of the Cromford Canal website.
Visitors can connect to the High Peak Trail at High Peak Junction just near Cromford. The High Peak Trail weaves west towards Middleton Top then up through the heart of the White Peak countryside towards Parsley Hay and Buxton, culminating at Dowlow 6 miles south of Buxton. The trail follows the line of the former Cromford and High Peak Railway line built between 1825-30. Around High Peak Junction near Cromford you'll find some of the oldest surviving railway workshops dating from around 1830. All have been beautifully restored to how they would have been in the 1880s.
At Matlock Bath is Richard Arkwright's showpiece mill, the mammoth Masson Mills dating from 1783. A museum and mill tour features within and takes in working heritage looms, bobbin rooms and heritage textiles machinery. A positive treasure trove for the industrial archaeology enthusiast. The wild weir on the River Derwent alongside Masson Mills, which features in the museum tour, is a highlight and was built at the same time as Masson Mills. Masson Mills is also today a hugely popular factory shopping village. Essentially the mother of all factory shopping village, Masson Mills stocks everything from quality clothing and shoes from top brands to home furnishings, gifts, toys, cards and more all at great discount factory shop prices.
The bold and huge Venetian-style facade of Masson Mills represents an important shift in Arkwright's career. A clear statement of success, a textiles palace, unlike his smaller mills prior to 1783. Masson Mills was the Father of the Factory System's great showpiece mill, built at the height of his entreprenurial power. Real historic textile machinery treasures feature on the Masson Mills museum tour including the original cotton doubling frame which works along the the principles of Arkwright's water frame. A 200 year old hand pirn-winder, Lancashire and Yorkshire Victorian looms, Jacquard looms and many more textile heritage treasures can be seen on the Masson Mills tour.
