Strutt's North Mill, Belper

The Strutt family’s association with Belper began with industrialist Jedediah. He had transformed the hosiery business with his invention of the Derby Rib, which allowed ribbed, that is stretchable, stocking fabric to be made on a hand-worked knitting frame. It was his realisation that high quality thread was needed for good hose which led him in 1776 to begin building cotton mills at Belper.

Jedediah and his sons went on to build more mills at Belper, although some have now been demolished. Built in 1804, the North Mill was built by Jedediah’s son William, and was the forerunner of the modern skyscraper, and the most advanced industrial building of its time. The frame of the building is made entirely of cast iron. Now, trained guides take visitors around one of the finest exhibitions of historic cotton spinning machinery in the world.

To encourage families to move into Belper and work in their mills, the Strutts built high quality housing for their workers, and this is still to be seen today. The Strutts were benefactors to Belper for two centuries - one legacy to the town was the River Gardens, given by George Herbert Strutt in 1906, a water garden by the Derwent which still features band concerts on alternate summer Sundays.

The importance of the Belper mills and their historic industrial neighbours at Cromford, Darley Abbey and Derby was reflected by the World Heritage Site status given to the Derwent Valley Mills in 2001. Telephone the Derwent Valley Visitor Centre at Strutt’s North Mill on 01773 880474 for details.