Cromford Mills, the First Factory in the World!

D0c.Col
Wed, 11 Jun 2025 22:11:32 +0000
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Cromford Mills:The water powered factory that started a textile Industrial Revolution with DJI Drone

This is the second of 3 videos featuring 3 of the mills of the UNESCO Derwent Valley Mills. An interesting place with an historic past that may surprise you.

Cromford Mills — nestled in the Derwent Valley of Derbyshire is a peaceful and relatively quiet place today, but it was once the beating heart of an industrial revolution that helped change the world. "Welcome back to the 2nd of my 3 videos featuring the Derwent Valley Mills UNESCO World Heritage Site. It all began in 1771, when a man named Richard Arkwright built the world’s first water-powered cotton spinning mill right here in Crompton, which laid the foundation for his fortune. Using his revolutionary patented Water Frame, Arkwright pioneered a new system of production — one that brought together power, machinery, and labour under a single roof. This wasn’t just a mill — it was the blueprint for the modern factory, and Cromford became the prototype for industrial towns across the globe. But Arkwright’s vision extended beyond machinery. To keep his workforce stable and reliable, he built a village for them — rows of cottages, a school for their children, and a chapel for worship. It was one of the earliest examples of an industrial community, designed to support workers and help guarantee productivity. Here, the rhythms of life followed the rhythms of the mill — the clatter of looms, the whirring of wheels, and the rising tempo of change. Powering it all was the River Derwent. Its fast-flowing waters were harnessed by ingenious engineering — feeding water wheels that kept the spinning frames running day and night. Nature, harnessed for human progress. This innovation made mass production of cotton thread possible, fuelling a textile boom that would spread from Derbyshire to the world. The river itself became a key artery of industry — not just at Cromford, but throughout the Derwent Valley. Recently, the Arkwright Society raised £300,000 to restore hydro power at the UNESCO World Heritage Site. A new water wheel has been installed alongside a 17kWh hydro turbine and water source heating system to power the site. The new water wheel and hydro turbine draw water from Bonsall Brook via the mill pond. It’s a poignant reminder of how simple forces powered a global transformation. The wheels tirelessly converted the energy of flowing water into a mechanical motion that ultimately drove the spinning frames on a continuos basis. this innovation made mass production of cotton thread possible, fuelling a textile boom that would spread from Derbyshire to the world. Inside the restored mill buildings today, you’ll find echoes of the past preserved. Original machinery, carefully restored, stands as a tribute to the engineers and workers who toiled here. Exhibitions now tell the story not just of Arkwright, but of the thousands of ordinary people — men, women, and children — who powered Britain’s rise as an industrial giant. Beyond the mill lies the village church, a peaceful place where generations of mill families found solace and sanctuary. Arkwright, a self-made man with little formal education, believed in order, discipline, and the value of hard work — values that echoed in both his mill and his town planning. His influence reached far beyond Cromford — he was knighted in 1786 and is now remembered as one of the key architects of the Industrial Age. As time passed and technology evolved, Cromford’s role in industry declined. By the 20th century, the mills had fallen silent. But in the 1970s, a group of volunteers — the Arkwright Society — stepped in to rescue and restore the site. Today, Cromford Mills is a living heritage site, hosting museums, art studios, shops, and cafés — a blend of past and present, where history lives on. This place is more than bricks and mortar. It’s a symbol of innovation, perseverance, and transformation. Cromford Mills is where the world changed course — where the industrial age was born.

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