The Arkwright Society is a registered charity Arkwright Society - Official website engaged in the conservation of industrial monuments in Derbyshire, focusing on the water mills of Lumsdale Valley, Ashford, Cromford and Slinter Wood. It is named after Richard Arkwright who founded the world's first successful water powered cotton spinning mill in Cromford in 1771. The society was founded after a festival in 1971 to commemorate the 200th anniversary of this feat.
The society bought the site of Sir Richard Arkwright's Cromford Mill in 1979 and have since restored its Grade I listed buildings. As of October 2007, the work had cost four million pounds and 35 people were employed by the society at the site.Cromford Mill on Princes Regeneration website Thieves stole a historic clock from the site in 2003.Thieves steal historic clock, BBC, 6 February 2003
Derwent Valley Mills, including Cromford Mills, is one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.About UsDerwent Valley Mills The mill complex was also declared by Historic England as "one of the country’s 100 irreplaceable sites".The Cromford Mills Creative Cluster and World Heritage Site Gateway Project, Derbyshire
The Society also manages the Canal Warehouse at Cromford Wharf, having leased it since 1995, where 2 rooms are used as classrooms. The Society offers tours of the Wharf and the Cromford Canal. - Derwent Valley Mills Website
The Society opened the Cromford Venture Centre in 1996 to provide accommodation for young people studying the industrial history of the region. It also owns Slinter Wood, a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a Special Area of Conservation, Slinter Cottage and Dunsley Meadows Local Nature Reserve.
In 2018, the society was planning to restore Building 17 "to transform it into a northern anchor site for the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage site and ensure the visitor centre was sustainable".The Cromford Mills Creative Cluster and World Heritage Site Gateway Project, Derbyshire
In 2019, the society employed 100 persons;About Us the restoration expenditure by that time was £48 million.Inside the £130m ‘conservation challenge of the century In 2018, the "Cromford Mills Creative Cluster and World Heritage Site Gateway Project" was listed as a finalist for the "Best Major Regeneration of a Historic Building or Place" in the Historic England Angel Awards.The Cromford Mills Creative Cluster and World Heritage Site Gateway Project, Derbyshire
Derwent Valley Mills, including Cromford Mills, is one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.About UsDerwent Valley Mills The mill complex was also declared by Historic England as "one of the country’s 100 irreplaceable sites".The Cromford Mills Creative Cluster and World Heritage Site Gateway Project, Derbyshire The complex is open daily to visitors.Site MapVisit Us
There is also a Nottingham Arkwright Society Nottingham Arkwright Society, official website based in the Nottingham Industrial Museum in the grounds of Wollaton Park.
References
External links Arkwright Society - Official Website