New Mills
The town of New Mills is situated in the county of Derbyshire in the East Midlands region of England. The town lies above the River Gott and the River Sett on a gorge known as The Torrs, close to the Peak District National Park.
In the time of the Domesday Book New Mills was listed as being part of a Royal estate that was known as Longendale. In the 13th century the town was part of the Royal Forest of the Peak. The name New Mills is thought to have been given to the town in the 14th century. At this time a corn mill was built on the manor land here which was known locally as the new mill and the name most probably derives from that.
By the age of industrialisation the town was perhaps best known for its iron and brass industries as well as paper, cotton, cloth and printing works. Prior to this point the industry in and around the town had been predominantly agricultural in nature. In the 17th century the area also started work in the coal mining industry. By the end of the 18th century the two rivers and the gorge by the town made it an ideal location for milling and a number of mills were built in this period to take advantage of the natural facilities here.
The growth seen here virtually doubled the town’s population in the first few decades of the 19th century as new people moved to the area to work in the mill sites. During the Second World War the Swizzel Matlow sweet factory relocated to the town to get away from the London Blitz. The company is now held to still be the biggest employer in New Mills.
Visitors to New Mills who come in June will be able to enjoy the One World Festival. This annual event is free and runs for one day. A visit to the Torr Vale Mill is also recommended. This listed building shows visitors a little more about the town’s industrial past. The Torrs themselves have been developed in recent years into parkland. Walkers, hikers and nature lovers can also take advantage of a number of interesting walks. The town, for example, is close to the Sett Valley Trail, the Goyt Way and the recently built Millennium Walkway. To learn more about the town itself it is recommended to take a visit to the town’s Heritage Centre.
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