Cressbrook & Litton Mills

My turn to drive today and it was very cold when we set off at 07:00 for Cressbrook Mill on the river Wye just above Monsal Head. There was 5 of us today the usual 4 + Geoff's daughter Sally. Parked up alongside the river and took the road straight to Cressbrook Mill, a huge complex now converted into apartments. The original mill was built by Sir Richard Arkwright in 1779 but this burnt down in 1785 and was rebuilt by Richard Arkwright Jnr in 1787. We crossed the river over the bridge beside the weir and the footpath was a single track up the side of the dale. It was a bit steep at times with a long drop down to the river. The path eventually came out over the top of the Cressbrook tunnel so we clambered down to the trail. Along the trail and through Litton Tunnel then down to Litton Mill. Litton mill It was set up in 1782 by Ellis Needham and Thomas Frith, both farmers with small estates in the area. The mill was powered by the water of the River Wye, using Richard Arkwright's water frame.The Poor Law Act of 1601 had, among its provisions "the putting out of children to be apprentices". An agreement was made between the churchwarden and an employer, by means of an indenture sworn before a Justice of the Peace, that the latter would provide for and give employment and training to a pauper child. Often this worked for the benefit of the child but often it was seen by employers as a source of cheap labour and a way for a parish to relieve itself of responsibility. In the absence of any local labour, this was the course taken by Needham and Frith.
We had breakfast at Litton Mill and set off back to the car, the return journey was mostly on the same route but instead of climbing over Cresswell tunnel we went through it and crossed the river a bit further downstream. 

Cressbrook & Litton Mills

Cressbrook Mill

Geoff bringing up the rear

Geoff & Sally 

The 4 of them on the trail with the river Wye below.

Cressbrook Hall

Looking down onto Rob & Ike on the Monsal trail 

Litton Tunnel

Part of the Litton Mill complex

Off the Monsal Trail and down to Litton Mill

Hanging gardens of Litton

Breakfast

Old GR post box

Litton Mill from the Monsal Trail

Even older post box this one a VR

Snowdrops

 This was a great walk this morning just over 4 miles and with the birthday boy, Ike was 70 today and to celebrate he didn't forget anything today. Happy birthday Ike.
See you next week.