Derwent Valley Mills

The beautiful Derwent Valley saw the birth of the factory system, when new types of building were erected to house the new technology for water-powered manufacturing.

In order to attract and retain the workforce, the mill owners provided housing and other facilities such as schools and places of worship, which resulted in the creation of the first modern industrial communities. 

The site contains a fascinating series of mill complexes, the watercourses that powered them and the settlements developed for the workers. Yet it retains much of its natural beauty and is the ideal mix of heritage attractions and stunning scenery.

Amongst the site’s most significant buildings are: The Silk Mill in Derby where water power was first used for silk throwing machines; the mills at Darley Abbey and Belper which represent important pioneering developments in fire proof construction methods, and the mill complexes at Cromford and Masson Mills constructed by Richard Arkwright who extended the scale of mechanisation of cotton spinning and devised the factory production system. 

The site offers a wide choice of walks, particularly along the Heritage Way, which runs the full length of the Derwent Valley. The Heritage Way markers are easy to follow, and a mapbook is available from retailers throughout the World Heritage Site for those wanting to explore it a little more.

A particularly pleasant stretch of the Heritage Way runs along the Cromford Canal, past the Leawood Pumphouse and High Peak Junction Workshops, which offer further industrial attractions.  And the Edwardian River Gardens at Belper, which celebrated their centenary in 2006, offer a picturesque haven for visitors of all ages.

Free visitor, group and children’s guides for the World Heritage Site are available from the Silk Mill - Derby’s Museum of Industry and History, Strutt’s North Mill at Belper, and Sir Richard Arkwright’s Masson Mills and Cromford Mill, as well as walk leaflets to help you explore the site.

For the last weekend of October each year, over 30 free one-off events are organised to offer a chance to discover and explore the birthplace of the factory system. These include art workshops, demonstrations, tours of some of the world’s earliest industrial communities, exhibitions, nature trails and a chance to see parts of the World Heritage Site not usually on show!