Cromford Mill

The Cromford Mill is a former water-powered cotton spinning mill located in the village of Cromford, Derbyshire, England. It went into history as the first cotton spinning mill to be powered by water as well as the first successful industrial-scale cotton production factory. The Cromford Mill had a tremendous influence on the cotton industry as well as the Industrial Revolution and is considered one of the first modern factories.

The cotton spinning mill at Cromford was built by English entrepreneur Richard Arkwright and his business partners in 1771. It started operating one year later, however, the work in the mill is thought to be mostly experimental until Arkwright filled a patent for carding machine in 1775 which also reveal a few documents from that time. And it was this carding machine which enabled to turn raw cotton into yarn and Arkwright’s water frame (he patented it in 1769) that launched mass production of cotton and made Arkwright and his business partners a fortune. The entrepreneur later built or leased a number of mills throughout the country, while his cotton production process was soon adopted by other entrepreneurs in Britain and abroad. Arkwright later lost his patents but most of the water-powered cotton spinning mills worldwide were built under license.

Taken on Tuesday 22nd July , a day out with Judy my sister in law. Edited in ipiccy to bring the colour contrast up a little. Used my Pentax kx, and pentax 16-45 lens.