In December 2001, the Derwent Valley Mills in Derbyshire was inscribed on the World Heritage List. This international designation confirms the outstanding importance of this area as the birthplace of the factory system where, in the 18th Century, water power was successfully harnessed for textile production.
To discover more about that history regarding Milford, click here
A couple of excellent animated videos, with commentary, of the former South Mill site in Milford have been created by Evans Vettori Architects of Matlock from old photographs, funded by The Great Place Scheme for the Derwent Valley Mills project, and added to this website in December 2021. They show the impressive extent of the complex, covering the site of what is now Soi Kitchens and the Strutt Arms car park, and go into detail about the function of the various individual buildings that formed the complex. Sadly, despite the fact that some of the buildings dated from the 1790’s, the South Mill complex, apart from the hydroelectric power turbine house, was demolished in 1964, being deemed, at the time, of no importance.
The two animations follow in sequence, the first is here, and the second here.
On the other hand much of the Strutts dye house and bleaching works in Milford on the other side of the A6 to the South Mill survived, and the Dye House and iconic chimney have been listed.
Arial view of bleach works/dye house complex in early 2020’s
Listed dye house and chimney
he remaining warehouses and sheds were from the 1960’s, and were removed in the early 2020’s as part of the Milford Mills housing development. The Dye House was completely renovated as part of this development and will be used as industrial units. An extensive archaeological survey was done once the sheds and warehouses were removed and before the houses were built. Dan Waterfall, the archaeologist in charge of this survey, gave a talk on his findings to the Derbyshire Archaeological Society in September 2024, see here for details.
