ABOUT THE SITE
The Strutt family began buying land in Milford in March 1781. They began to build a complex of cotton mills and a bleach works. The Derwent at this point had long been in use to provide power for various works that were built along the banks. The Strutts bought two of these sites, the New Mills and Makeney Forges, and the Hopping Mill Meadow site which included a fulling mill. Some cottages came with these works but the Strutts built more houses for their workforce. However, unlike the other mill communities in the valley, a significant number of the houses in this community were built by local people taking advantage of the arrival of the cotton mills and the need for housing. The houses, school, shops and public houses, church and chapel survive, but the mills were demolished in the 1960s leaving only some parts of the mill buildings standing.
Milford
Why visit Milford?
Although nearly all the mill buildings were demolished in the 60s and 70s, the settlement includes houses, places of worship, public houses, schools, farms and cottages, that the Strutt family and other local people built for the families working in the cotton mills and which survive largely intact. These are well worth exploring as an example of an early industrial settlement.
Parking
It is suggested that coaches drop groups at the Strutt Arm’s Hotel or by the Church.
How to get there
By road – Milford is between Derby and Belper on the A6.
By train – Use the Derby to Matlock line and travel to Belper or Duffield and from there transfer to the bus.
By bus – There are a number of bus services that run between Matlock and Derby which stop at Milford.
What is available for school groups?
- School groups wanting to visit Milford will need to make their own provision and design their own fieldwork activities and tour of the village as there is no visitor centre. However, contact the Manager at Strutt’s North Mill, Belper who may be able to arrange for a tour of the settlement. Telephone 01773 880474.
Site Highlights - Exploration and Discovery
- Derby Road, Milford Bridge. The river bridge was built by William Strutt in 1793
- Derby Road, Holy Trinity Church built between 1846 and 1848 to designs by William Moffat of London on a site given by the Strutt family.
- Derby Road, Milford House. Built around 1792 for Jedediah Strutt who lived here before moving to Derby.
- Milford Dyehouse, Derby Road. Thought to have been built in 1832, its construction shows the method of fire-proofing developed by William Strutt
- Hopping Hill, (East and West) Terrace, nos 1 – 26. A back to back row of terraced housing built by the Strutts between 1818 and 1820. The terrace is built into a steep hill side. The east side (nine double-fronted houses) is of two storeys. On the west side (14 houses) the houses are of three storeys. They are built of coursed stone with slate roofs and brick chimneys. Look out for examples of the many cast iron street signs which have survived in Milford.
- Chevin Road, Milford County Junior Mixed and Infant School. Built by the Strutts between 1819 – 23, at a cost of £3000. It was constructed on a sloping site with the upper floor at street level (on the west side) and with an arched floor at ground level (on the east side). It is said that the ground floor was used for the Strutts’ wagons and carts in the dye yard and the upper floor as a school. When the ‘half-time’ system was operating a gate in the mill yard allowed the children to move freely between the mill and the school. It is now all used as a school though the water tanks for the dyehouse are still under the school yard. Built of coursed stone it has a slate roof with large cowl ventilators and multi-pane cast iron windows. The interior has very light roof trusses dated 1875. Contact the Headteacher, Mr S Moore on 01629 812413 for permission to visit this site.
- Moscow Farm, Derby Road. This farm was built by the Strutt family around 1812-15, to supply produce to their workforce. The large, planned farmstead, largely constructed in gritstone with Welsh slate or Staffordshire plain tiled roofs, is enclosed by perimeter walls.
- Milford Baptist Chapel, Chevin Road. This building was built in 1849 for non-conformist worship.
- Water Power at Milford. On Foundry Lane is Hopping Mill Weir adjacent to the now-demolished Glow Worm Foundry. Makeney Road Weir is near the former Forge Mill.