Details
The following building shall be added:
SK 28 57 CROMFORD WATER LANE
668-/2/10009
Former water-powered
corn mill, attached
cottage, ancillary building,
boundary walling and
associated spillway and
shuttles
II
Former water-powered corn mill, attached cottage, ancillary building, boundary walling and
associated spillway and shuttles. Late C18, with C19 additions, restored late C20. Coursed
rubble and squared block gritstone, with ashlar dressings to cottage, and plain tile and slate roof
coverings. Irregular plan form, with cottage, ancillary buildings and walling all attached to mill
building. MILL; 2 storeys and loft above machine drive chamber in basement, and of 3 bays,
with small mill pond to west. West elevation of 2 storeys, with off-centre doorway and flanking
side wall brick chimney. Bracket for former shuttle mechanism to left. North and south gables
face onto wheelpits and have massive squared block walling at wheelpit level, pierced by single
openings for horizontal shafts from now removed water wheels to internal drive mechanisms.
Above, central 2-light flush mullioned windows to each floor in both gables, the lights with
louvred lower halves, each with 4 glazed panes above. Wheelpit to south gable with curved
ashlar breast; the pit and adjacent yard are enclosed by a tall rubble wall with a tall buttress on
the pond side. Interior with surviving drive mechanism, including vertical drive shaft and bevel
gearing, some salvaged from Longford corn mill. Heavy spine beams support milling or stone
floor above. COTTAGE; 'L'plan of 2 builds, 2 storey and attics, with gabled range to right of
late C18 date, with quoins, coped gable with shaped kneelers, and a first floor venetian window.
Semi-circular overlight to attic window, and central 6 over 6 pane sash to ground floor. Added
C19 bay to left, with doorway against the quoining ofthe gabled range, and 4-pane sashes to
ground and first floors. 2-light casement to attic, and 2 brick ridge chimneys. Interior much
altered. ANCILLARY BUILDING; 'L' shaped range of 2 and 3 storeys, attached to east wall
of mill. Asymmetrical roof to 2-bay former drying kiln to west, with small gabled ridge louvre.
Narrow parallel range to south links with 3 storey former Malthus, which has large rectangular
openings to upper floors, one with surviving louvres. Narrow unglazed vents to ground floor.
Interior much altered, and being converted to visitor centre at the time of inspection.
BOUNDARY WALLING WITH ASSOCIATED SPILLWAY AND SHUTTLES; rubble
stone wall , curved to follow course of the Benzol Brook links rear wall of-drying kiln and front
wall of mill. The northern section stands on the pond embankment, and incorporates the flat
overflow spillway (spanned by a C20 timber footway) to the mill pond. Further north are 3
control shuttles with metal paddle gates to control the outflow from the pond. History; the mill
complex is associated with the development of the settlement built by Sir Richard Arkwright
at Cromford, to serve the Cromford Mills. Listed as a near complete example of a late C18
water-powered corn mill complex which survives with ancillary buildings and structures
including the mill cottage.
Listing NGR: SK2923557025
