Strutt’s North Mill
Early fireproof iron-framed cotton mill of 1804 in Belper, part of the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site, visited on guided tours.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Strutt’s North Mill is one of the Belper mills founded by the cotton spinner Jedediah Strutt. The first North Mill of 1786 was destroyed by fire in 1803, and his son William Strutt rebuilt it in 1804 on the old foundations. Because cotton dust burns easily, the new mill was built to resist fire, with cast-iron beams and columns, brick vaulted floors and wrought-iron ties, making it one of the oldest surviving iron-framed fireproof buildings in the world.
The mill was driven by a large waterwheel on the River Derwent and held spinning frames and carding engines. The Belper mills form part of the Derwent Valley Mills, which were inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001, and the North Mill is a Grade I listed building.
Today the building is cared for by the Belper North Mill Trust, a charity run by volunteers and two part-time staff. Visitors can join guided “A Strutt Around the Mills” tours from Archway House on Wednesdays and Saturdays from March to October, along with heritage walks and family events during the year. The Trust’s aim is to celebrate, explain and teach about the World Heritage Site.
Highlights
- One of the world’s oldest iron-framed fireproof buildings (1804)
- Part of the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site
- Guided tours from Archway House
- Heritage walks and family events
- Grade I listed mill on the River Derwent
- Operated by
- Belper North Mill Trust
Admission & discounts
| Adults | £7.50 |
|---|---|
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 15 · Accompanied children under 16 go free. |
The tour costs £7.50 per adult plus a £0.36 online booking fee. Tours can be pre-booked online.
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The North Mill basement cannot be reached with a wheelchair because of the historic building. Some areas are poorly lit because the building is Grade I listed. The nearest Changing Places toilet is at the Ada Belfield Centre, Belper Library. Visitors with specific needs are asked to contact the Trust. Assistance dogs are welcome.
Kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 15 |
|---|
Family-friendly tours and half-term children’s craft events are offered, and accompanied under-16s go free.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Belper railway station
Belper railway station is a 0.4-mile walk, on the Derwent Valley Line with hourly services from Nottingham and Derby. The Trent Barton “Sixes” and Transpeak buses serve Belper, and route 6.1 between Derby and Bakewell stops almost at the mill.
By car
No on-site parking at the museum.
Free parking at the mill site is currently unavailable.
Belper lies on the A6 between Derby and Matlock.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 75 min |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | The “A Strutt Around the Mills” tour is the way to see the mill and must be booked. The Trust also offers education visits for schools and group visits. |
