Regeneration
In 1979 the Arkwright
Society, a small local charity, bought the Cromford Mills
as an act of rescue.
Now, with more than £5 million raised and spent many
of the buildings have been brought back into economic use.
Over 10,000 tonnes of rubble, much of it contaminated, has
been removed and from beneath the Colour Works buildings
much of the original Arkwright site has emerged. This included
the original form of the mill water courses, the yard and
the
walls and
wheelpit
of
the
second
mill of
1776.
Though
much has been achieved the three largest buildings are yet
to be restored.
Cromford Mill is now home to many
small businesses and educational service providers employing
over 100 people. The mill project
has come to be seen nationally as a model of the economic
regeneration that can be achieved in a heritage context and
has been badged by Regeneration through Heritage as an
exemplar project.
The Society is happy to acknowledge the
assistance it has received from English Heritage, the Heritage
Lottery Fund, emda, numerous corporate sponsors and its two
local partners; Derbyshire County Council and the Derbyshire
Dales District Council.
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