Old Mill sites

Litton Mill. (3904 views on Panoramio) The mill is located by the side of the River Wye about 2 miles from Litton village. Now converted into luxury apartments, the Litton Mill complex has a notorious history involving cruelty, torture and a high rate in apprentice and child labour mortality. In fact, it is reputed that burials were made at several locations in an attempt to cover up the number of deaths. Ellis Needham was a millowner or factory master with the worst reputation. He established the mill back in 1782 and together with his partner Thomas Firth attempted to sell the premises in 1786. Their advertisement stated well supplied by hands from the neighbouring villages at low wages ! When the mill failed to sell, Needham took to apprenticing parish orphans and paupers, some of whom were brought from London or other large cities. They worked long hours with poor food, in bad conditions, and were beaten and abused. In 1815 Needham was declared bankrupt so ironically his cost-cutting measures did not pay off. The mill was taken over by a succession of owners, one of whom was the much kinder Henry Newton, and by 1857 there were 400 employees. As with many of the mills, fire struck at Litton and new buildings were constructed. In 1934 it was bought by Anglo-French Silk Mills Limited and produced artificial silk and man-made fibres. In 1963 Litton Mill changed hands and manufactured textured yarns until its closure in the 1970 s. For many years the mill lay empty and derelict before planning permission was approved for its conversion into living accommodation. www.peakdistrictonline.co.uk/content.php?categoryId=3035

This picture was taken in 2006. The previous time we passed this way, 15 years before in 1991, there were posters to stop the proposed conversion to luxury apartments. It obviously failed and the area looks pretty posh now. (See next picture for the history of the mill.)

The limestone rocks of the White Peak were laid down about 325 million years ago, in the Carboniferous Period, when a few degrees south of the Equator and as a shallow tropical lagoon.

Cressbrook Dale is a SSSI consisting of calcareous and acid lowland grasses, with broadleaved, mixed and yew woodland on the upland. It is believed that the children here fared better than those at Litton Mill. Cressbrook Hall... "
Set in 23 acres of the Derbyshire Peak District, the Hall has been home to the Hull-Bailey family since 1978 and we hope that you will agree this spectacular venue is perfect for a quiet restful break amid stunning scenery.

The Hall occupies a magnificent location, overlooking a natural limestone gorge created by the River Wye. Designed by Thomas Johnson of Lichfield in 1835 the hall has remained in private ownership and had most of its original features are remarkably well preserved. The grounds and gardens presently being restored to the original planting plan are open to the public during the summer."

(1250 views in Panoramio)