By Alex Gilbert who, at the time of writing, was the Historic Buildings Architect in Derbyshire County Council’s Conservation, Heritage and Design Service.

A rare opportunity to visit the Strutt Estate farmstead arose whilst
the lease was vacant. Permission was sought to allow a visit before
a new tenant was found and the buildings on the northern side of the site made available for purchase.

The purpose of this short report is to assist in a greater appreciation of the significance of the farmstead and, in particular, its contribution towards the Outstanding Universal Value of the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site.

The importance of agriculture in the development of the factory system in the Lower Derwent Valley (LDV) cannot be understated. The Strutt family invested heavily in developing agriculture in order to help grow and sustain a healthy workforce. Their remaining  farmsteads, including Swainsley Farm, provide an invaluable insight  into their ingenious application of industrial thinking into agriculture.

Any comments are based on observations made during our site visit on May 8th 2024 in bright and sunny conditions. They are also made with a broad understanding of the contribution that the Strutts made towards the development in agriculture in the LDV based on prior personal research into the subject.

Download the Full Report here: Swainsley Farm Study