Cromford - Peak District Villages

www.peakdistric... presents Cromford. The village of Cromford is built snugly amongst fine rock scenery and sits astride the main A6 Derby road at the southern end of Matlock Dale deep in the Derwent Valley.
The village owes its historical significance entirely to the River Derwent, for it takes its name from a bend in the river where the water was shallow enough to be forded by the old Derby to Chesterfield road, the original old English `Crune-ford` meaning `crooked-ford`. Two thousand years ago the Romans knew the crossing and shipped pigs of lead mined in the local hills down-river to the Trent from here.
Cromford is also known as the `cradle` or `birthplace` of the Industrial Revolution for this was where Richard Arkwright (1732-1792), perhaps Britain's first ever `industrial tycoon` and known as `The Father of the Factory System` chose to build the world's first water-powered cotton mill in 1771.
The character of the village was completely transformed in the early years of the 19th century when Scarthin Nick was blasted through with dynamite to make way for what later became the A6, thus annexing the Arkwright industrial mill complex on the east side of the main Derby road and the Market Place and village at the bottom of the hill which climbs steeply westward towards Wirksworth, on the other.
Recommended Places :
Peak District Accommodation - Alison House Hotel
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Masson Mills
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The Greyhound Hotel - Cromford Hotels
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To see more information on this village please visit
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To see more videos of the peak district please visit
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To see more peak district news please visit
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[@patmdonnelly]

Cromford is particularly interesting because of Richard Arkwright, you can visit the Mill and there are guided tours explaining why Arkwright chose Cromford to expand his cotton industry. There are lovely walks along the canal, there are rare water voles residing on the banks near High Peak junction, you often see wildlife specialists with massive camera poised to take photos of this rare species. Don't forget to visit Scarthin Books - special peak district bookist.

[@Clocked0Ne]

The climb up around black rocks looks stunning, can't believe I didn't know about it before.

[@DINAHOLLAND1]

This is a great Video of Cromford - it really shows off how interesting it is. There is loads to do in Cromford and it is so worth a visit - great for history - great for walking - Black Rocks is a really brilliant area for walking and has a moor on the top with a trigg point from where you can see Carsington Water from - truely a lovely place with great views

[@JonC63]

Very historic Peak village - well worth a visit

[@mablesmum]

With its connection to Arkwright and his mill, this has great industrial revolution links in history - Some historical Pride for the Peak district

[@mecj100]

looks very interesting