'Birthplace of manufacturing' mill saved

'Birthplace of manufacturing' mill saved

Just now

Isaac Ashe

Derby

The short-term future of the oldest mill building at Cromford Mills, considered the birthplace of modern manufacturing, has been safeguarded, says Historic England.

The Grade I listed Upper Mill, also known as Building 18, has been saved and removed from the Heritage At Risk Register it was added to in 1998, it said.

It follows extensive works to the mill - which dates back to the 1770s - including replacement roofing, structural repairs and drainage works.

But Historic England said further investment was needed to secure the long-term future of Cromford Mills.

The site forms a core part of the historic Derwent Valley Mills -which sits along a 15-mile stretch of the River Derwent between Cromford and Derbyand was granted world heritage status in 2001.

That places the area on a similar footing to the Taj Mahal in India, the pyramids of Giza in Egypt, and the Great Wall of China.

Building 18 was the first mill built by Richard Arkwright at Cromford Mills.

Water power

The factory complex was on a scale never before attempted, and it revolutionised cotton spinning across the globe - marking an important step towards the industrial revolution.

The new mill made use of the innovative technology that Arkwright and his partners had built in the years leading up to it - items such as the Spinning Jenny and the water mill.

But despite its grand vision, the mill itself is a model of functional simplicity, a five-storey, long and narrow rectangular box with floors supported by huge timber beams.

In the late 1780s the mill was extended from 11 bays to 15 bays, and further mills, warehouses, housing and even a schoolhouse were added to Cromford as the site's output - and Arkwright's personal wealth - grew.

But over the years Building 18 was affected by structural problems, vandalism and fires, including a blaze in 1929 which destroyed its top two floors.

The complex was bought by the Arkwright Society in 1979 and since then, work has been under way to slowly restore the mill to its former glories.

It was added to Historic England's Heritage at Risk Register in 1998 due to its very poor condition.

The asbestos roof was partly replaced with cement fibre sheets 25 years ago and by 2021, the roof coverings and guttering were leaking and there were structural concerns.

The repairscompleted in 2025mean the ground floor can continue to be used to house the Arkwright Experience –a hologram experience for visitors– and the third floor, now free from asbestos contamination, can be visited by the public.

Eilis Scott, chief executive of the Arkwright Society, said: "The interim works at Building 18 are an important step in securing the future of this internationally important building.

"By making the building watertight, we are able to focus on Buildings 1 and 7 and our wider programme of regeneration across Cromford Mills.

"Ultimately, securing Building 18's long-term future will require significant investment, alongside identifying viable future uses and developing a comprehensive regeneration scheme for the building."

Cromford Mills is one of 85 sites removed from the Heritage At Risk Register in 2026, alongside a Cornish fishing harbour in Newlyn and the 10th Century Saxon round towered Church of St Peter in Norfolk.

However 197 sites have been added to the register this year.

These include Hastings Castle in Kent, one of the first three castles built in England by William the Conqueror after 1066, Shakespeare's daughter's historic home Hall's Croft in Stratford-upon-Avon, and Charles Dickens's Writing Chalet in Kent where the novelist wrote some of his acclaimed works.

Claudia Kenyatta, co-chief executive of Historic England, said: "The most effective way to protect our buildings is to bring them back into use as places that create connection and enjoyment for local people.

"The sites saved and removed from the register this year show what can be achieved when partners and communities work together to deliver positive, lasting change."

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