Discover more about the Derwent Valley in the Visitor Centre. This Free exhibition provides you with an overview of world changing history that took place at Cromford Mills and along the Derwent Valley

Watch our introductory film revealing why this amazing valley was inscribed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site and discover how the textile industry developed in this rural valley over 250 years ago and became a cornerstone of the industrial revolution.

The exhibition displays intricate historic machines illustrating how the evolution of cotton spinning changed the history of mass production and explores the Derwent Valley’s global impact on the cotton industry.

Discover what happened to the site after it finished spinning cotton in the 1840s and the life of the mills since then, including the restoration challenge faced by the Arkwright Society to bring the buildings back into use and create the heritage attraction you can see today.

Want to know more? We have a variety of tours on offer which you can book online or at the Mill Yard shop when you visit.

Cromford Mills is supported and cared for by the Arkwright Society. The charity works hard to preserve this unique history and share the site’s story as widely as possible.

Donate here