Discover more of the Derwent Valley Mills UNESCO World Heritage site.
The wider area
Discover more of the Derwent Valley Mills UNESCO World Heritage site.
The Derwent Valley
Amid breath-taking countryside in the heart of rural Derbyshire, the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site snakes 15 miles from Matlock Bath and Cromford in the north, through Belper, Milford and Darley Abbey into the City of Derby.
Following the course of the mighty River Derwent, which once powered the world’s first ‘modern’ factories, it offers fascinating insights into life at the time of the Industrial Revolution.
Historic buildings have been restored as visitor centres and attractions so you can explore the past with expert guides, and discover more with a varied, inspiring events programme. And with country walks, quality shopping, wholesome food and abundant local hospitality, the Derwent Valley is the perfect choice for a day trip or short break at any time of year.
The Derwent Valley is an area of contrasts, united by the river which flows through it. The Valley is exceptionally rich in wildlife with woodlands, charming villages, flower rich pastures and flowing streams, home to the internationally recognised Derwent Valley Mills and the only World Heritage Site in the East Midlands.
Take a journey back to an age when Britain held centre-stage as the world’s first industrial nation, to a place where water-power was first successfully harnessed for textile production. Explore a UNESCO World Heritage Site: be inspired by its beauty; learn more about its story; unearth its hidden heritage. Discover for yourself why this part of Derbyshire is famous around the World.
Lumsdale Valley
The Lumsdale Valley is owned by the Arkwright Society and is a site of national archaeological and historic importance.
The mills and the associated water management features form one of the best examples in Britain of a water-powered industrial archaeological site. Its uniqueness comes from seeing such an extensive use of waterpower in such a relatively small area, and in 2014, it was scheduled as an Ancient Monument by Historic England.
The permissive footpath through the beautiful Lumsdale Valley, via the waterfall, is open throughout the year. It is a concessionary/ permissive footpath, and as such the Arkwright Society reserve the right to close the path as and when needed. We will notify the dates here, and this does not affect any Public Rights of Way that run through the rest of the valley.
Some areas around the mill ruins have been fenced off for safety reasons. Please do not go into the fenced off areas. This is for your safety, and to ensure the future of the historic ruins.
Can you help us look after this special place for the benefit of people, wildlife and history?
Lumsdale Valley with its historic industrial structures, is owned by the Arkwright Society. We are a charity focused on conservation and education and rely on donations and volunteers to help keep the valley open. Any money from donations for Lumsdale will go towards the repairs needed to make these structures safe. We want to keep the story of the valley alive for the enjoyment of our local communities and visitors.
If you would like to join as a volunteer, please email us on lumsdale@arkwrightsociety.org.uk or to make a donation, please click below.
When visiting the valley please be aware of the following:
- There is no designated parking in the Valley and visitors are encouraged to park in Matlock town centre and walk to the Valley
- There are also buses that run regularly along the Chesterfield Road (A632) past the top of the Valley
- There are no public toilets in the valley
- Photography in the Valley: The Lumsdale Valley Scheduled Monument and Conservation Area is the private property of the Arkwright Society – please do not undertake any photography for commercial purposes without prior permission from the Arkwright Society.
The footpaths and woodland are monitored regularly. If you see anything that you feel needs reporting or notice any antisocial behaviour, please contact the community police on 101.
If you would like to contact us (office hours only), the email is: lumsdale@arkwrightsociety.org.uk
Cromford Village
Built by the Arkwright family, Cromford village is a fine example of an early factory village, remaining largely unaltered since the late 18th Century.
It is one of the key historic communities within the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site.
Cromford has been a settlement for more than a thousand years. It is mentioned in the Doemsday book as Cruneford meaning ‘Crooked Ford’. Before Arkwright arrived, it was a scattered community stretching from the River Derwent to the top of Cromford Hill. The main industrial activity was lead mining and smelting.
Sir Richard Arkwright built his first watered powered cotton spinning mill here in 1771, quickly followed by the second mill in 1776. Arkwright required a large workforce and built houses to attract workers to the village. North Street was built in 1776 and is the earliest example of planned industrial housing in Derbyshire. He also built the hotel and established a market.
Today you can explore the village with an audio tour hired from the Mill Shop at Cromford Mills. The tour takes in sites including North Street, the School built by Sir Richard Arkwright Junior, the water management system known locally as the ‘Bear Pit’ and the Greyhound Pond.
Explore Near By
Masson Mills
Masson Mills are a short walk from Cromford Mills and were also built by Arkwright, later in his career. Here you can see the next stages of architectural and technological development. Masson was built on the Derwent to harness greater water power and the site is still powered by water turbines today.
The Masson Mills museum houses a large collection of historic textile machinery and artefacts and provides frequent machinery demonstrations, including looms and doubling machines. Full guided tours also take in a majestic steam engine and views of the weir and waterways.
Souvenirs and fresh coffee are served in the visitor centre café. For further details see www.massonmills.co.uk
Strutt's North Mill
Visit Historic Belper and enjoy the town’s fantastic shops, cafes and pubs. Go along to Strutt’s North Mill, built in 1804, and take an external guided tour of the mill site, its watercourses and the River Gardens, to discover the history of cotton spinning in the heart of the Derwent Valley. Delve deep into the North Mill Basement and see the support pillars designed by William Strutt that utilised a revolutionary and safe fire-proof construction that is now seen as the forerunner to modern skyscrapers.
Walks and Tours are priced at £7.50 per adult lasting about an hour and a half. For further details and booking see www.belpernorthmill.org.uk
Cafés
Make a day of it by refuelling in one of our welcoming cafés. From hot drinks and delicious cakes to ice creams and our tempting seasonal lunch menus there is something to enjoy all year round.
Shops
We have a variety of independent retailers selling unique art, crafts, food and gifts as well as our own gift shop.
What’s On
Check out our calendar of events. With something on almost every weekend and every day during the school holidays there is something for everyone to enjoy at Cromford Mills.