New phase of historic mills regeneration project showcased

A project has been launched to bring historic buildings at Cromford Mills back into sustainable use.

At an exclusive evening called ‘Shaping the Future of Cromford Mills’, The Arkwright Society, which manages the site, revealed details of the exciting new phase in the regeneration of the mills.

The event brought together an audience made up of Arkwright Society members, key partners and funders – including The National Lottery Heritage Fund, which is supporting the project with a £1.369 million grant.

Mayor of the East Midlands Claire Ward – the leader of the East Midlands Combined County Authority, opened the evening with a speech about the importance of the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site as a visitor destination.

2026 is the 250th anniversary of the Second Mill built by Richard Arkwright on the site and the workers cottages he built in Cromford village.

Guests were given a first look at the new exhibition, ‘1776: When the Threads Came Together’, led by Cath Feeley, senior lecturer in history, and co-created with volunteers.

The evening also looked ahead to the wider work taking place at Cromford Mills as part of the project.

Éilis Scott, chief executive of The Arkwright Society, said: “It was fantastic to see so many of our partners, stakeholders and funders at Cromford Mills – supporting the event and raising the profile of the international significance of the mills.

“We are sharing our vision and invite people to be part of the conversation.

“The project will bring historic buildings back into sustainable use, creating new opportunities for education, training and community engagement, while supporting skills, enterprise and the wider visitor economy.”

To find out more about the latest developments at Cromford Mills, click here.