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Report - - Milford Mill, Derbyshire, September 2017 | Industrial Sites | 28DaysLater.co.uk

Report - Milford Mill, Derbyshire, September 2017

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tarkovsky

SWC
Regular User
History

‘Milford was named for its river-crossing, on an ancient route from Derby to the Peak District. The power of the Derwent was used from medieval times to run a corn-mill, dyeing and fulling mills, and iron and scythe forges.

Jedediah Strutt, a farmer turned hosier, recognised the potential of the site. Inventor of the Derby rib machine, Strutt owned a Derby silk mill, and had set up cotton mills in Belper. In 1781, he bought land in Milford to build a cotton spinning mill. It was one of a series of textile mills constructed on the Derwent between Matlock and Derby during the Industrial Revolution.

These pioneering developments, which included the creation of new communities to house and cater for the workforce they required, are now recognised as being of international importance. The Milford Mill complex eventually included spinning, bleaching and dyeing mills, as well as foundries, joiners’ workshops, a gas-works and a corn-mill. The Warehouse, constructed in 1793, was an early attempt by William Strutt, Jedediah’s eldest son, to design a fire-proof multi-storey structure. Later, and more successful, attempts at fire-proofing are embodied in the Dyehouse building, near the bridge.

Whilst almost all the early mill buildings were demolished in the 1950s and ’60s, much of the associated industrial housing has survived. Many of these houses were built by the Strutts, from the late 18th century onwards, transforming Milford from a riverside hamlet into a company village. The Strutts also built the school, created several farms to supply produce for their workers, and helped establish the village’s various religious and social buildings.’

(Source: http://www.milford-makeney.org/history/)

In 2015 strengthening work was carried out on the mill’s chimney: http://www.milford-makeney.org/chimney-work/

Part of the mill was last used by a number of small businesses, including an antiques shop and restaurant. A car wash service still operates on the premises on Saturdays. The mill was lined up for demolition in September 2015 but seems to have been granted a reprieve for now...

The Explore

Visited solo on a week day, I unwittingly arrived at peak school drop off time for the primary school located next door. Hanging back for a bit I soon saw a gap in the traffic and found my way in. Although largely empty and overgrown, there’s enough bits and pieces left in the various parts of the mill to make this an interesting wander. And finding an old typewriter is always a bonus.

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Full set here: http://www.forumimagehosting.com/album/AA1V
 

JackOsgood

28DL Full Member
28DL Full Member
Hey, Nice report this place looks interesting. I am thinking of going down and having a look at this place. You say its still in use as a car wash on the weekends, If i go on a weekday do you think anyone will be about on the site or is it fully abandoned. Thanks
 

tarkovsky

SWC
Regular User
Hey, Nice report this place looks interesting. I am thinking of going down and having a look at this place. You say its still in use as a car wash on the weekends, If i go on a weekday do you think anyone will be about on the site or is it fully abandoned. Thanks

I went on a weekday morning. As I was about to leave a guy opened the gates and drove on site. I’m guessing he was from the car wash. Other reports suggest they are friendly, but I didn’t personally make contact. Most of the site is totally empty tho.
 

JackOsgood

28DL Full Member
28DL Full Member
I went on a weekday morning. As I was about to leave a guy opened the gates and drove on site. I’m guessing he was from the car wash. Other reports suggest they are friendly, but I didn’t personally make contact. Most of the site is totally empty tho.
Thanks for the reply probably will go around it and have a look.
Thanks for the info :)
 

rastapasta69

28DL Full Member
28DL Full Member
These pics must be abit older then September, there's no spray paint from when that wanker got in and graffitied all over the place,
Nice shots though pal!
 

tarkovsky

SWC
Regular User
These pics must be abit older then September, there's no spray paint from when that wanker got in and graffitied all over the place,
Nice shots though pal!

No it was defo September, I just worked around the graff. You can just see the edge of a pink worm sneaking in on the right hand side of picture three and this one in my full set also shows it: http://www.forumimagehosting.com/image/29SOz

It’s still possible to get photos that work around it! Thanks tho, glad you like the pics.
 

rastapasta69

28DL Full Member
28DL Full Member
My apologies, You did a really good job there then my man! Looks like the spray never happend,
It seriously ruined the place in my eyes, top work :thumb
 

tarkovsky

SWC
Regular User
My apologies, You did a really good job there then my man! Looks like the spray never happend,
It seriously ruined the place in my eyes, top work :thumb

No worries man, no offence taken at all, just didn’t want anyone thinking I’d fiddled the dates or that it wasn’t still worth a visit! I’d seen the first few reports of this ages ago, and they mentioned that it was up to be demolished so I never went thinking I’d missed it. Next thing I saw was pics with the graff, which made me wish I’d got off my bum in the first place! Ha!
 

Andoni

28DL Full Member
28DL Full Member
Might be heading there soon, let’s hope it’s still there and I can get in
 
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