Belper North Mill

About

The Mill was built in 1804 by William Strutt and is one of the oldest surviving examples of an industrialised iron framed, 'fire-proof' building.

Story

Jedediah Strutt began building mills here from 1776. The original North Mill was completed in 1786 but was destroyed by fire in 1803. Its replacement, the present mill, was built in 1804 on the earlier mill's foundations by Jedediah's eldest son William Strutt and is one of the oldest surviving examples of an industrialised iron framed, 'fire-proof' building and is now recognised as one of the most important industrial buildings in the world, and as such, is a central attraction in the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site.

Construction
The mill was one of the most technically advanced building of its time, incorporating an iron frame and brick arches, to make the building "Fireproof". Considerable thought was given to the individual building components. For instance, iron beams were 'turtle-backed' that is, deeper in the middle where they were under the greatest stress.

It is a grade I listed building.

The Mill houses a museum which shows the story of cotton and the growth of the industrial revolution. There are events organised at the Mill throughout the year.