Site record MDR7739 - Milford Foundry (site of), Hopping Hill, Milford
Type and Period (2)
Protected Status/Designation
- World Heritage Site
Full Description
The Glow Worm Foundry is on the site of an earlier one worked by Strutt in the 1780s to produce much of his ironwork for buildings, waterwheels and mills. There was a large weir here in 1745. The copings of the drystone walls by the mill tail of the cotton mills are 'skulls' from ladles of cast iron, presumably from this foundry. (1)
The site is shown as 'Iron Foundry' on a late 19th century OS map, as 'Brass & Iron Foundry' on early 20th century OS maps and 'Derwent Foundry (Iron)' on a mid 20th century OS map. (2, 3, 4, 5)
The Strutts started purchasing land in Milford in March 1781 and immediately began to construct the first structure in what was to become a complex of cotton mills and bleach works. At this point along its course the river had long been put to use to provide the power for industrial processes and Strutt's first acquisitions were two of these sites, the New Mills and the Makeney Forges and the Hopping Hill Meadow, which included a fulling mill. The industrial sites which were for so long the economic hub of the community have been reduced by the clearance of c. 1960 to a handful of later buildings and a range of archaeological features. Only the foundry the Strutts established c. 1825, on Hopping Hill Meadow, has continued in use in the ownership of Hepworth Heating. (6)
Sources/Archives (6)
- <1> SDR10751 Bibliographic reference: Nixon, F. 1969. The Industrial Archaeology of Derbyshire. p.269.
- <2> SDR18789 Map: Ordnance Survey (OS). 1882. OS County Series, 1st edition, scale 1:2500 (c. 25" to one mile). XLV-5.
- <3> SDR18790 Map: Ordnance Survey (OS). 1896-1900. OS County Series, 2nd edition (1st revision), scale 1:2500 (c. 25" to one mile). XLV-5, 1898.
- <4> SDR20367 Map: Ordnance Survey (OS). 1912-1921. OS County Series, 3rd edition (Second Revision), scale 1:2500 (25" to one mile). XLV-5.
- <5> SDR18867 Map: Ordnance Survey (OS). 1937-38. OS County Series, Third Revision, scale 1:2500 (c. 25" to one mile). XLV-5.
- <6> SDR18621 Unpublished document: Derwent Valley Mills (DVM) Nomination Steering Panel. 2000. Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage List Nomination Document. p 70-1.
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred SK 3480 4551 (230m by 321m) |
|---|---|
| Civil Parish | BELPER, AMBER VALLEY, DERBYSHIRE |
Related Monuments/Buildings (1)
Related Events/Activities (2)
- EDR2294
- EDR2293
Please contact the HER for details.
External Links (0)
Record last edited
May 26 2024 9:39PM