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1776: When the Threads Came Together

Sir Richard Arkwright’s Cromford Mills, Mill Lane, Cromford, Matlock, Derbyshire, DE4 3RQ

  • Multiple dates available
  • | In person
  • | Pre-booking not required
  • | Exhibition

Celebrate the 250th anniversary of the building of Sir Richard Arkwright’s Second Mill and the first workers’ housing in Cromford at North Street with our new exhibition ‘1776: When the Threads Came Together’.

The exhibition will explore how the conditions came together for Cromford to become a model that changed the way that people lived and worked across the world.

You can find out about the daily life of the mill workers and discover how the site has been water-powered for 255 years. Although only the foundations of the Second Mill and wheel pit survived, this layout and format of mills became the ‘template’ of efficiency and mass production that was copied around the world. Explore the visitor centre, see Arkwright’s water frame and learn about the industrial transformation that began in the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site.

The exhibition has been created in partnership with the University of Derby with the support of the University of Derby’s Vice-Chancellor Impact Accelerator Award.

Additional events:

Don't miss the opportunity to step inside the workers' cottages on North Street. The Landmark Trust is offering a rare opportunity to explore one of these historic homes and discover daily life for mill workers in the early factory system that transformed how people lived and worked. See the Landmark Trust's website for bookings and further information. 

There are also plenty of other activities at Cromford Mills over the weekend, including a Heritage Skills Day on Saturday 19th and a special afternoon of music on Sunday 20th, featuring the Derby Cathedral Choir, see Cromford Mills website for further information.

Timings

Saturday 19 September:
10:00-16:00
Sunday 20 September:
10:00-16:00

Location & directions

Sir Richard Arkwright’s Cromford Mills, Mill Lane, Cromford, Matlock, Derbyshire, DE4 3RQ

Directions:
Parking available. Local train station Cromford 8 minutes walk away.
Contact on day:
Arkwright Society
Telephone number:
+441629823256

Booking information

Pre-booking requirement:
Pre-booking not required

Accessibility details

The Mill Yard has some uneven ground. There is a Changing Places Toilet in the local authority car park across the road from the Mill.

Check out our online channels

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Other nearby events

Heritage Skills Day

The Arkwright Society, Cromford Mill, Mill Road, Cromford, Matlock, Derbyshire, DE4 3RQ
19 Sep 2026
In person
Pre-booking not required

Get ready to immerse yourself in the world of traditional crafts and conservation. Experience hands-on workshops, live demos, explore the beautiful surroundings and immerse yourself in the history of Cromford Mills.

Evensong with Derby Cathedral Choir

Sir Richard Arkwright’s Cromford Mills, Mill Road, Cromford, Matlock, Derbyshire, DE4 3RQ
20 Sep 2026
In person
Pre-booking not required

Join us at Cromford Mills for a special afternoon of music featuring the Derby Cathedral Choir, culminating in a beautiful service of Evensong at St Mary’s Church.

Everyday Histories in Cromford: North Street Open Days

North Street, Cromford, Matlock, Derbyshire, DE4 3RG
Multiple dates available
In person
Pre-booking preferred

Come and celebrate 250 years of industrial transformation in the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site. The Landmark Trust are partnering with Derwent Valley Mills and Cromford Mills for a weekend of Heritage Open Days activities.