Often considered the birthplace of the factory system, this impressive group of mill complexes can be found in Derbyshire along the River Derwent. Although the first mill building, the Silk Mill was built in 1721 by John and Thomas Lombe, it wasn’t until industry pioneer Richard Arkwright built the world’s first water-powered spinning mill in the late 18th century that business boomed. Arkwright’s mills became a blueprint for factory production across the UK and around the world. Today, the incredible structures are some of the best preserved examples of the Victorian cotton mill industry in Britain and have been a World Heritage Site since 2001
