Cromford Mills: It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!
Christmas returns to Cromford with festive markets and activities throughout December. We are looking forward to closing 2020 on a high note; bringing a sprinkle of Christmas Magic to the Mill Yard.
The New Year will see a whole flurry of celebrations taking place:
- 250 years since Sir Richard Arkwright established his first factory in Cromford,
- 50 years since the Arkwright Society was formed and
- 20 years since the Derwent Valley Mills were inscribed as a World Heritage site by UNESCO.
2021 is set to be a really positive year, as we celebrate these significant events with staff, Arkwright Society members, volunteers and all our visitors and supporters.
This is your chance to do your all your Christmas shopping locally and in a safe and pleasant environment.
Christmas Weekends (Dec 5th/6th, 12th/13th, 19th/20th)
Our Christmas market is larger than ever and offers the perfect opportunity to pick up a wonderful Christmas gift for your loved ones. Support the local crafts people and discover festive gifts & delectable treats. Stall holders will be selling a wide range of original products including Gin, jewellery, pottery and other handmade gifts. Plus Woodies Wings owls & raptors on display every weekend.
All week through till Christmas: Don't forget our wonderful independent shops are open everyday (#shoplocal). For quirky, and beautiful presents, stocking fillers, decorations and cards, why not come and check out what is on offer in the Mill Yard.
The Mill Shop * Cromford Mill Cheese Shop * WeaveKnitit * Countryside Books
Heritage Antiques * Netty Reddish * Peaky Printshop * Cromford Antiques
Don't leave without a festive takeaway treat from Arkwright’s Café or the Counting House Coffee Stop.
Medley Arts Dec (5th to Dec 13th )
The Medley Art Group are back by popular demand; exhibiting a selection of Paintings, Ceramics, Stained glass & Jewellery in our Education room.
Georgian Trail (Dec 2nd to Jan)
Take part in our family Christmas QR Quiz, Find the 8 mill workers around the yard to discover what a Georgian Christmas was really like. Unscramble the secret Christmas word and claim your prize!
Cromford Mills is certified as "We're Good To Go". This means that we have the appropriate Covid safe measures in place to keep our visitors and staff safe. Free Entry, 10am - 4pm.
Our on-line Industrial Revolution Conference:
Hidden Histories of the Industrial Revolution: Enslaved People and Women was a great success, with really good feedback. We are looking forward to rolling out further on line events in the spring.
Watch this space!
Farewell to Michael Ledger:
Known to hundreds of school children as mill supervisor Obadiah Frost, Michael Ledger who has worked at Cromford Mills for nearly 17 years is retiring this December.
We would like to thank him for all the work he has done here; putting Cromford Mills on the school map and steering us through the sometimes stormy waters of National Curriculum changes. We wish him well in his retirement…and if Mr Frost ever wants to come out of retirement…we always have space for a volunteer!
Open every day 10am - 4pm except Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
With no raft race on Boxing Day we are giving our staff a well earned break after one hell of a year!!
*The Counting House Coffee Stop will be open on Boxing Day, serving hot drinks and festive treats.