Cromford Mills Awarded Major Grant from The National Heritage Lottery Fund
The Arkwright Society is delighted to announce that Cromford Mills has secured £1.3 million in vital development funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
This major investment marks the beginning of Cromford Mills: Celebrating Heritage, Creating a Sustainable Future a once-in-a-generation project to restore and reimagine some of the UK’s most significant Grade I listed 18th-century buildings. Work will focus on the transformation of the landmark 4-storey Mill, Building 1, which greets you as you walk through the main entrance to the site.
Thanks to National Lottery players, this support will fund the essential planning, consultation, and design work phase, laying the groundwork for the full restoration and sustainable reuse of these historic spaces. As part of the internationally significant Derwent Valley Mills UNESCO World Heritage Site, this milestone takes Cromford Mills a major step closer to being removed from Historic England’s National Heritage at Risk Register and securing its future as a vibrant heritage destination and thriving community space.
Reviving the Past, Inspiring the Future
At the heart of this vision is a new, forward-looking skills and enterprise programme, to be developed in partnership with The University of Derby, local organisations and colleges. This will focus on practical training and work placements in areas such as heritage construction, renewable energy, design, hospitality and tourism - equipping people of all ages with skills for the future. Taster sessions will begin over the next two years.
Plans include creating inspiring new amenities including a restaurant beside the iconic waterwheel, an engaging visitor welcome hub, flexible event and function spaces. Interpreting new ways to tell the fascinating stories of the mills that celebrates the site’s global industrial legacy - while connecting to today’s climate and sustainability challenges.
Cromford Mills: A Place for Everyone
Éilis Scott, Chief Executive of the Arkwright Society, said:
“We’re incredibly grateful to The National Lottery Heritage Fund and to all who support this project. Cromford Mills changed the world once, and we believe it can do so again - as a beacon of heritage, innovation and inclusion, rooted in our local communities. This funding brings us significantly closer to securing a sustainable future for this remarkable place. Restoring our vacant historic industrial buildings is about unlocking new opportunities, sparking innovation, and using the stories of creativity and enterprise to inspire.”
“Cromford Mills is for everyone, whether you work here, volunteer or visit. But keeping the mill gates open isn’t easy. Continued support is vital to conserve these buildings and ensure they remain open, welcoming and full of life - relevant for today and for generations to come.”
Liz Bates, Director, England, Midlands & East at The National Heritage Lottery Fund, said:
“We are pleased to support Cromford Mills with this initial grant of £1.3million, as we celebrate awarding a total of £2bn of National Lottery and other funding to projects across the Midlands & East of England. This internationally significant industrial heritage site has big ambitions for saving heritage at risk from deterioration and transforming how visitors experience and learn about the heritage of this remarkable place. Crucially, the long-range goals of this work will help put Cromford Mills on a solid footing for the future. We wish this project well as work gets underway.”
Get Involved
The Arkwright Society will host events, consultation sessions and open days throughout the development phase. We want people to get involved and help shape these exciting proposals and be part of history.
For updates and ways to support the project, as well as support The Arkwright Society to continue keeping the gates open visit:
www.cromfordmills.org.uk
Follow us on social media.
Facebook – CromfordMills
Instagram - @CromfordMills1771
Tiktok - @CromfordMills
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