Derwent Valley Mills

The Derwent Valley Mills is a UNESCO World Heritage Site which runs along the banks of the River Derwent from Matlock Bath in the north to Derby in the south.

Here on Street View is Cromford Mills which was built in 1771 for Sir Richard Arkwright, the inventor of the waterframe cotton machine. Cromford Mills was the first successful water-powered cotton spinning mill in the world and was soon followed by other mills along the Derwent Valley towards the City of Derby.

The Derwent Valley Mills can now be seen for their true historical significance as marking the beginnings of the Industrial Revolution in Britain.

Many of the historical building have been restored and are visitor attractions. Some of the Derwent Valley Mill, although not water-powered, continued in operation into the 20th century.