Cromford Mills

Cromford Mills Cromford Mills is run and maintained by the Arkwright Society, a registered charity. Visit our website to see what’s on and ways to support.

Free to enter - made possible by every event ticket, on-site purchase and donation. Cromford Mills was rescued from dereliction in the 1970s by the newly formed Arkwright Society, and was restored back to how it would have looked in the 1770’s when Sir Richard Arkwright built the first successful water powered cotton spinning factory. The Arkwright Society are continually fundraising to maintain t

hese beautiful buildings and to regenerate them to be fit for modern use whilst at the same time preserving this unique historical site. Run as a tourist attraction, conference centre, office workspace and education facility, the visitor to Cromford Mills can enjoy our new Visitor Centre, historical tours, restaurants, shops, exhibitions and regular family events & fundays. Visit our website www.cromfordmills.org.uk for more information.

👀The Women Behind the Georgian Country House. What was life really like for elite women in 18th-century Britain?Join Pro...
31/08/2026

👀The Women Behind the Georgian Country House. What was life really like for elite women in 18th-century Britain?

Join Professor Ruth Larsen at Cromford Mills for a fascinating heritage talk exploring the lives, roles and responsibilities of women in Georgian country houses.

From managing estates and households to navigating social expectations, these women held significant influence behind the scenes - helping to shape and maintain the world of the country house.

Elite Women and the Georgian Country House: Roles and Responsibilities offers a fascinating new perspective on Georgian society and the often-overlooked contribution of women to country house life.

📍 The Gothic Warehouse, Cromford Mills
📅 Thursday 17th September

Doors open at 7.00pm for refreshments. Talk starts at 7:30pm.
Tickets: £6 online, £7 on the door.

🎟️ Find out more and book your place:
https://www.cromfordmills.org.uk/whats-on/highlighting-heritage-elite-women-and-the-georgian-country-houses-roles-and-responsibilities/

26/08/2026

🏕️ ADVENTURE WEEKEND – THIS BANK HOLIDAY! Looking for something fun to do with the family? Join us at Cromford Mills this Saturday / Sunday / Monday, 10am–4pm for a weekend packed with outdoor adventure!

🧗 Climbing
🏹 Archery
🎯 Nerf Target Challenge
⚽ Penalty Shootout
🛶 River Tubing
💎 Gem Panning
🏕️ Den Building
🗺️ Treasure Hunts
🌲 Woodland Skills
🛶 Kayaking
🔥 Survival Challenges
🎨 Tie-Dye Workshops

Plus, there’s plenty more happening around the Mills! Mill Yard Studio Gallery launches its new Embers II exhibition on Saturday & Sunday, with outdoor painting on Bank Holiday Monday.

📍 Cromford Mills
📅 29th–31st August
⏰ 10am–4pm

View the full weekend schedule here!
https://www.cromfordmills.org.uk/whats-on/adventure-weekend-2/

Come along, get stuck in and make the most of the Bank Holiday weekend!😁

24/08/2026

🎭 TOMORROW AT CROMFORD MILLS! 🎭

Shakespeare, bicycles & a little bit of chaos! 🚲🌳

Join the HandleBards tomorrow for a hilariously entertaining outdoor performance of As You Like It. Their four-strong troupe travel entirely by bicycle, bringing their sets, props and costumes with them!

Expect romance, mistaken identities, wrestling and plenty of laughs in this wonderfully chaotic Shakespearean adventure. 😂

📍 Cromford Mills
📅 Tuesday 25 August 2026
⏰ 6.30pm

LOADS happening at Cromford Mills tomorrow! 🚌🐛Join us for a fun-filled family day with plenty to see and do:🔎 Bugfest – ...
19/08/2026

LOADS happening at Cromford Mills tomorrow! 🚌🐛

Join us for a fun-filled family day with plenty to see and do:

🔎 Bugfest – get up close with fascinating creepy crawlies as part of our Summer Explorers Club! There are still spaces available, so make sure you grab a place

🎪 Play Hub – head to the marquee for a range of fun family activities and creative things to keep little explorers entertained.

🚌 The Sixes Roadshow – come and see the shiny new Sixes bus as the team showcase their new fleet of buses, along with goodies, timetables and Explore Guides.

Plus, explore our historic mills, independent shops, cafés and everything else Cromford has to offer.

Make a day of it – we’ll see you tomorrow! 💚

🇯🇵 JAPAN FEST AT CROMFORD MILLS! 🇯🇵 Join us on Sunday 23 August, 11am–5pm for an awesome celebration of Japanese culture...
18/08/2026

🇯🇵 JAPAN FEST AT CROMFORD MILLS! 🇯🇵 Join us on Sunday 23 August, 11am–5pm for an awesome celebration of Japanese culture!

🥁 Live entertainment including Leicester Taiko, koto performances, J-Pop and anime favourites.

🎨 Have a go at fox mask painting, origami, Shogi and Tatakai, plus a colourful cosplay parade.

🍜 Enjoy great food including Japanese street food, Korean corn dogs, duck wraps, Thai, Malaysian and Chinese-inspired dishes, Persian street food and authentic Japanese tea.

🛍️ Plus crafts, artwork, gifts, collectibles and Japanese-inspired products from a range of traders.

📅 Sunday 23rd August | 10am–4pm
📍 Cromford Mills
🎟️ FREE ENTRY

🐛BUGFEST IS BACK AGAIN THIS THURSDAY! Missed our first Exotic Bug Handling session? Don’t worry - BugFest is back at Cro...
17/08/2026

🐛BUGFEST IS BACK AGAIN THIS THURSDAY! Missed our first Exotic Bug Handling session? Don’t worry - BugFest is back at Cromford Mills this Thursday! 🌿

Come and meet some of the world’s weirdest and most wonderful creatures, from giant millipedes and stick insects to fascinating beetles and other incredible invertebrates.

Perfect for curious young explorers, these hands-on sessions give children the chance to get up close, ask questions and discover amazing facts about bugs from around the world. 🐌🦂🪲

📅 Thursday 20th August
🕚 11am–12pm & 1pm–2pm
📍 Cromford Mills
🎟️ Limited spaces – booking essential

Part of our Summer Explorers Club, BugFest is a brilliant chance to discover just how amazing the natural world really is!

👉 Book here
https://www.cromfordmills.org.uk/whats-on/bugfest-summer-explorers-club/

🛍️ MAKERS MARKET IS BACK THIS SUNDAY! Come browse a fantastic mix of artisans, makers and local producers, with plenty o...
14/08/2026

🛍️ MAKERS MARKET IS BACK THIS SUNDAY! Come browse a fantastic mix of artisans, makers and local producers, with plenty of beautifully crafted and handmade goodies to discover.

📍 Cromford Mills
🕙 10am–4pm
😄 Free entry

Wonderful Wednesdays: Nature Makers Club 🌿Looking for a fun, creative day out this summer? Join us every Wednesday throu...
11/08/2026

Wonderful Wednesdays: Nature Makers Club 🌿
Looking for a fun, creative day out this summer? Join us every Wednesday throughout the Summer Explorers Club for hands-on nature-inspired activities at Cromford Mills!

For just £5 per child, your wristband includes unlimited access to our creative activities throughout the day, plus the Nature Quest Trail. Come and go as you please between 11am and 3pm.
Get stuck into activities including:

🛞 LEGO waterwheels
🎨 Pebble painting
🐝 Build a bee home
💧 Create an insect watering station
♻️ Junk art using recycled materials
📅 Every Wednesday this summer holiday
⏰ 11am–3pm
💷 £5 per child

🎟️ No booking required – simply purchase your wristband on arrival at the Mill Yard Shop.

A perfect summer activity for curious young minds and budding nature lovers! 🌼🐞

🌿 SUNSHINE PRINTING WORKSHOPS for Kids this Thursday at Cromford Mills! Get creative with nature at our Sunshine Printin...
11/08/2026

🌿 SUNSHINE PRINTING WORKSHOPS for Kids this Thursday at Cromford Mills! Get creative with nature at our Sunshine Printing Workshops, led by creative practitioner Dean Leivers, as part of the Summer Explorers Club.

Children will head out to forage for natural materials, then use their finds, sunlight and specially treated paper to create their own unique images using the historic cyanotype photographic process.

Best of all, they’ll leave with a one-of-a-kind piece of artwork to take home – created entirely from their own discoveries and imagination.

📅 Thursday 13 August
⏰ 10am | 11.15am | 12.45pm | 2pm
🎟️ £6 per person
📍 Cromford Mills

Places are limited – book online to secure your space!

https://www.cromfordmills.org.uk/whats-on/cyanotype-printing-workshops-summer-explorers-club/

TRAIN LIKE A JEDI at Cromford Mills Comic Con! ⚔️Calling all young Padawans! Join the Jedi Fight Academy with Andrew Law...
06/08/2026

TRAIN LIKE A JEDI at Cromford Mills Comic Con! ⚔️

Calling all young Padawans! Join the Jedi Fight Academy with Andrew Lawden – Jedi stunt double and lightsaber trainer from Star Wars: The Phantom Menace.

Learn lightsaber skills, master stage combat and train like a real Jedi under the guidance of someone who worked on the film itself. It's an unforgettable experience for young Star Wars fans and the perfect chance to unleash their inner Jedi!

🎟️ Spaces are limited, so book your place today:
https://www.cromfordmills.org.uk/whats-on/comic-con/

Address

Mill Road
Matlock
DE43RQ

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 4pm
Tuesday 10am - 4pm
Wednesday 10am - 4pm
Thursday 10am - 4pm
Friday 10am - 4pm
Saturday 10am - 4pm
Sunday 10am - 4pm

Telephone

01629 823256

Website

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