Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site

The Abbey public house, a recent use of a medieval building, the only substantial remains of the era of the long lost Augustinian Abbey.

Note the interesting plaque on the wall facing Darley Street.

In December 2001, the Derwent Valley Mills in Derbyshire was inscribed on the World Heritage List. This international designation confirms the outstanding importance of the area as the birthplace of the factory system where in the 18th Century water power was successfully harnessed for textile production.

Darley Abbey contains the most complete of any of the cotton factory sites within the Derwent Valley.

Find out more information about the history of Darley Abbey here.

You can also find out what else there is to see and do in Darley Abbey here.

The tall building on the right is the four-storey West Mill built in 1821.  A mill constructed using advanced cast iron structural techniques – note the ‘tromp l’oeil’ windows painted on the wall of this building, carefully added to visually ‘balance’ the building when seen from a distance.

In the foreground is the Darley’s restaurant which was once the mill canteen.

In December 2001, the Derwent Valley Mills in Derbyshire was inscribed on the World Heritage List. This international designation confirms the outstanding importance of the area as the birthplace of the factory system where in the 18th Century water power was successfully harnessed for textile production.

Darley Abbey contains the most complete of any of the cotton factory sites within the Derwent Valley.

Find out more information about the history of Darley Abbey here.

You can also find out what else there is to see and do in Darley Abbey here.

Near the bridge, as you enter the Darley Abbey Mills complex you can see the Gatehouse.  The Gatehouse controlled the flow of workers, raw materials and finished goods in and out of the site.

In December 2001, the Derwent Valley Mills in Derbyshire was inscribed on the World Heritage List. This international designation confirms the outstanding importance of the area as the birthplace of the factory system where in the 18th Century water power was successfully harnessed for textile production.

Darley Abbey contains the most complete of any of the cotton factory sites within the Derwent Valley.

Find out more information about the history of Darley Abbey here.

You can also find out what else there is to see and do in Darley Abbey here.

St Matthew’s Church was built in 1819 and was the Evans family church and the villagers’ church.  Some of the Evans family have graves in the graveyard and within the church itself is a crypt that contains the remains of nine members of the Evans family.

In the graveyard, workers’ graves are identified by a slate tablet, some of which are now located by the Fellowship  Room to the left of the Church.

In December 2001, the Derwent Valley Mills in Derbyshire was inscribed on the World Heritage List. This international designation confirms the outstanding importance of the area as the birthplace of the factory system where in the 18th Century water power was successfully harnessed for textile production.

Darley Abbey contains the most complete of any of the cotton factory sites within the Derwent Valley.

Find out more information about the history of Darley Abbey here.

You can also find out what else there is to see and do in Darley Abbey here.

On Brick Row the imposing building is the old St Matthew’s School from 1826.  The left-hand wing was accommodation for the Schoolmaster and at the other end was accommodation for the Schoolmistress.

In December 2001, the Derwent Valley Mills in Derbyshire was inscribed on the World Heritage List. This international designation confirms the outstanding importance of the area as the birthplace of the factory system where in the 18th Century water power was successfully harnessed for textile production.

Darley Abbey contains the most complete of any of the cotton factory sites within the Derwent Valley.

Find out more information about the history of Darley Abbey here.

You can also find out what else there is to see and do in Darley Abbey here.

 

In front of you is a free standing group of houses called The Four Houses dated from 1792.  This house type is called a Cluster House and these are reputedly the earliest known example of this style of housing – four individual houses built together.

In December 2001, the Derwent Valley Mills in Derbyshire was inscribed on the World Heritage List. This international designation confirms the outstanding importance of the area as the birthplace of the factory system where in the 18th Century water power was successfully harnessed for textile production.

Darley Abbey contains the most complete of any of the cotton factory sites within the Derwent Valley.

Find out more information about the history of Darley Abbey here.

You can also find out what else there is to see and do in Darley Abbey here.