Recent Research

New and recent research will be published here from time to time. Research papers published here will need to go through our review process. Please contact info@derwentvalleymills.org for more information.

Global Cotton Connections: a summary of the Global Cotton Connections and Legacy Makers projects and research. With thanks to Dr Susanne Seymour of the University of Nottingham for her extensive work in the development of this material, to Dr Helen Bates and Lisa Robinson for their contributions as leaders of Legacy Makers, Bright Ideas Nottingham.

Mill workers grave markers at St Matthew’s Church: research by a team of volunteers with Bright Ideas Nottingham and Dr Stephen Walker.

Charted Territory: find out how to access digitised historic maps of the Derwent Valley Mills area to help you with your research.

Darley Abbey Mills Strike from September 1917 to January 1918: Hazel Thomson and Anna Bourke outline the hardships of the women with serving men away during WW1 and food shortages the women factory workers went on strike from the Walter Evans Co. Ltd. Mills.

Industrial Folkways: Industrial Folkways (IF) explores how industrialisation transformed folk traditions in and around the Derwent Valley during the 1700s and 1800s. IF investigates historic environments for traces of magic and ‘superstitions’; and examines seasonal and life-cycle customs; seeking to share discoveries in creative ways, including storytelling and crafts.

Cromford 1841: Stephen Hill pulls together information from the 1841 Census and Tithe Award records to build a better picture of who lived where and the social demographic of Cromford at that time.

The London Mothers at Willersley Castle: research by Heidi Luker for the Great Place Scheme.

Willersley Castle: a paper produced by Barry Joyce and Doreen Buxton with the assistance of David Hool for the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Partnership.

Oakhill and The Vicarage: a paper produced by Barry Joyce for the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Partnership. Much assistance in the writing of this paper was given by Doreen Buxton and David Hool, to whom the author is greatly indebted. David Hool generously made available much material on William Melville. The author is also indebted to Dr Mark Askey and Derbyshire Dales District Council for permission to reproduce photographs of the interior of The Vicarage.

Rock House: research for this paper has been undertaken by David Hool, Doreen Buxton and Barry Joyce, with assistance from Andrew Barber. Editor: Barry Joyce. The research team would like to place on record their thanks to the owners and residents who have made their investigations possible.

PROTHEGO: The PROTection of European Cultural HEritage from GeOhazards) project: application of innovative EO techniques for geohazards assessment in the Derwent Valley Mills WHS.