Cromford Mill

Last week, while still in Derbyshire, we visited Cromford Mill, a world heritage site preserving what remains of Richard Arkwright's pioneering use of water power in industry. Arkwright invented the water frame, a simple-to-operate device powered by a water wheel to spin cotton. His mill at Cromford was the world's first successful cotton spinning factory, and the first building put up specifically to house machinery.


When Arkwright took over the site in 1771 this bridge carried the main road. When he built his mills they blocked the road, so he provided an alternative route by cutting into a nearby rock outcrop. The bridge crosses Bonsall Brook, one of the water sources; the other being Cromford Sough which gave a reasonably constant supply of water from Wirksworth lead mines.


In 1793 the Cromford Canal was built. This would have been a considerable help to get the factory's output distributed. The canal terminates in two arms; each of the two wharf buildings has an overhanging loading bay.