Monument record MDR11633 - Wirksworth Moor to Longstone Turnpike Road (via Matlock and Bakewell), Derbyshire Dales
Type and Period (1)
- TOLL ROAD (Georgian - 1759 AD to 1759 AD)
Protected Status/Designation
- World Heritage Site
Full Description
The early 18th century bridge in the yard of the Cromford Mill complex pre-dates Arkwright's development of the Cromford Mill site. It bridges the Bonsall Brook and originally carried the public road which linked Matlock Bath to Cromford Bridge and to the road to Wirksworth. When Arkwright constructed his second mill in 1776-77, the new building blocked the road. It was soon after this development that he improved the alternate route between the Cromford road and Matlock Bath by cutting through a section of Scarthin Rock, so creating a more manageable route for wheeled vehicles. The road through Scarthin Rock was not cut down to valley level until 1818, when the turnpike road to Belper was constructed. Joseph Wright's representations of the mill by night and by day indicate how much of the mill would have been visible from higher up the valley before the engineering works associated with the creation of the turnpike road, now the A6, destroyed the natural slope of the valley from Cromford Market Place to the Mills. (1)
Sources/Archives (2)
- --- SDR24389 Unpublished document: Chan, B (ARCUS). 2003. An Archaeological Watching Brief at Mill (Hyde) Bridge, Ashford-in-the-Water, Derbyshire.
- <1> SDR18621 Unpublished document: Derwent Valley Mills (DVM) Nomination Steering Panel. 2000. Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage List Nomination Document. p 44-45.
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred SK 29043 61296 (11306m by 17820m) |
|---|---|
| Civil Parish | WIRKSWORTH, DERBYSHIRE DALES, DERBYSHIRE |
| World Heritage Site | Derwent Valley Mills |
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Related Events/Activities (3)
- EDR3865
- EDR4856
- EDR1756
Please contact the HER for details.
External Links (0)
Record last edited
Aug 8 2023 11:13AM