ABOUT THE SITE

The story of how the large scale manufacturing of high quality silk thread arrived in Derbyshire early in the eighteenth century is the story of the driving enthusiasm and inventive genius of a few key individuals.

Silk making in late seventeenth century England had grown during a period when fashion demanded luxury silk items, a demand that was met, in part by the Huguenot refugees from France who settled in England, many of whom were skilled silk weavers. Silk in England was woven from thread which had been imported from Italy which country had a monopoly on the silk thread manufacturing process.

At the end of the seventeenth century, Thomas Cotchett, a middle-aged Derby solicitor became interested in the commercial possibilities of silk thread manufacture in England using water-powered machinery. He turned to George Sorocold, an engineer, to build him a water-powered mill on an island in the Derwent near the centre of Derby. Cotchett installed a number of ‘Dutch Machines’ to spin silk thread but the project was not a success. The experiment might have ended there but one of Cotchett’s employees, John Lombe, who was probably apprenticed to Cotchett, was determined to take things further. He was convinced that if the secret Italian process of spinning silk thread could be introduced to the country there would be a large market for the high quality thread it would produce. John Lombe carried out a daring piece of industrial espionage, and returned to England with a number of Italian workmen and detailed drawings of the silk throwing machines which were used to spin the silk into thread. In 1719 Thomas Lombe was granted a 14 year patent on the process, and in 1721 he and his brother began to build a mill adjacent to Cotchett’s mill and Derby corn mill. Thomas Lombe was a London based silk merchant who was able to raise the much of the £30,000 needed to build the mill ( in today’s money this is about £2 million). The Lombe family were relatively well off silk weavers and merchants from Norwich.

The mill for the silk throwing machines was five storeys high and supported on stone arches which allowed the river Derwent when in flood to pass through them. It was powered by a single undershot wheel using the weir and tail-race of the town corn mill. A second building, the doubling shop where the silk thread was doubled to make it stronger, was constructed in line with the mill. This contained the doubling machinery which was all hand powered. There was also a warehouse, carpenter’s room and the mill offices.

Lombe’s mill contained many elements of the modern factory. The machinery was driven from a common power source and housed in a large multi-storeyed building. A large labour force was employed – by 1730, 300 people are said to have been at work in this enterprise.

The great importance of Lombe’s mill was the system of working and the organisation of the labour force around the rigid demands of a common power source which, as the Strutts made clear, was an inheritance the later factory masters well understood.

The Silk Mill - Derby's Museum of Industry and History

The Silk MillHow to make a group booking

All school groups must book a visit in advance. Bookings can be made by contacting the administration office on: 01332 716669.

 

Opening Times

Open throughout the year [except Christmas Day and New Year]

  • Mon 11am-5pm Tues-Sat 10 am-5 pm
  • Sun [incl. Bank Holidays] 1pm-4pm

Admission Free

How to get there

By road – Derby Silk Mill and Industrial Museum is signposted in the town centre by brown signs which read ‘Museums’ and the ‘Assembly Rooms’. The museum is on the edge of the town centre in a north east direction.

By train – Derby railway station is a 15 minute walk from The Silk Mill – Derby’s Museum of Industry and History. Derby is a mainline station with good connections with the rest of the country, follow the finger post signs for The Silk Mill.

Parking

There is limited parking on site. Permission to park should be arranged with the administration office.

What is available for school groups?

The Education Service offers a number of sessions at the Silk Mill. These are delivered by a team of freelance educators. Each session costs £55 and lasts up to 90 minutes. The session can be provided for groups of around 35 children. The sessions are aimed at Key Stage 2 children. Contact the service to find out about the latest sessions. Costs – All sessions in the museum cost £55 and last up to 90 minutes.

  • The Victorian Child – at work and play – Led by Janette Hopkins
    Find out more about the Victorians. During a schoolroom session, the children will have the opportunity to experience writing with slate pencils on slates, and also with ink and dip-pens using the copper plate alphabet, just as Victorian children would have done. Victorian smocks and waistcoats will be provided for the children to wear. There will also be a chance to explore the display within the museum about childhood in Derby.
    HISTORY KS2, UNIT 11 What was it like for children living in Victorian Britain?
  • Forces are Fun Led by Helen Crowfoot
    In this action packed session discover Forces at work – from water wheels and windmills to the giant RB211 jet engine!
    We’ll explore the power and flight galleries and then make and test some fabulous flying machines of our own.
    SCIENCE KS2, UNIT 2E Forces and Movement

Site Highlights - Exploration and Discovery

The Silk Mill lies beside the River Derwent on the north-eastern edge of the city centre. The Silk Mill was built in the early 1720s by Thomas Lombe and his brother John to manufacture silk thread. It was the first modern water powered factory to be built in England. Some of this mill can still be seen in the foundations of the present mill. The museum also has exhibitions relating to the history of Derby’s industry and history. There is a small exhibition about the history of the Silk Mill including John Lombe, an industrial spy a model of the original factory and you can also see parts of the original building and the River Derwent.

  • the World’s first modern manufactory.
  • exhibition about the development of the site and the silk industry.
  • the massive stone arches that supported the five storey ‘Italian Works’, as Lombe’s Mill was known, can still be seen running along the western bank of the River Derwent.
  • the south west corner tower, re-built using original bricks, with its distinctive architectural feature, the belfry.
  • the mill flume which can still be seen in the landscaped gardens to the south of the mill.
  • the wrought iron gates made for the mill in 1725 by Robert Bakewell on the western side of the building.

Teacher-led Visits

Teachers are welcome to bring a class to visit the Silk Mill and lead their own activities. The museum can often provide resources to support work at the museum. Teacher-led visits are free but the group must still make a booking to ensure that space and time can be allocated to the group.

Provision for school groups

Lunches

For schools visiting the Silk Mill provision can sometimes be made for groups to eat their lunch in the classroom. Groups will need to book this facility. There are picnic tables in the area at the front of the museum.

Toilets

There are toilet facilities available for school groups using the classroom, as well as a toilet that is open for the general public.

Storage for Bags

The museum can normally provide safe storage for bags and coats during the visit.

Classroom

There is a classroom for the use of groups at the Silk Mill. Schools must book the use of this room.

Shop

A Family Activity Book called Famous People is available from the shop. This book is intended to help families find out about all the famous people who began the Industrial Revolution in the Derwent Valley, including John Lombe.