Peckwash Mill is just about in the middle of the Derwent Valley World Heritage Site. The Derwent valley was granted this status to recognise the importance this valley and its mills played in the industrial ‘revolution’ with the introduction of mass production that powered our industrial growth not just in the U.K. but across the developing world. Peckwash Mill is not one of the key visitor mills, nor is it as large as the others within the Heritage Site but perhaps it should have a recognition all of its own.
Peckwash is located between Duffield and Little Eaton on the eastern bank of the River Derwent. There has ben a Mill on this site since the 11th century and like at least 8 others in the immediate area was originally a Corn Mill. Why so many, well the river was a source of power to drive the mill wheels.
It was in the 1700’s that the mill increased in size and of course power to match its commercial success. The owners (The Tempest Family) always kept an eye on the future and moved from Corn to paper Manufacture. With the coming of the railways* a link line was built on a wooden bridge (now long gone) across the River Derwent for direct access to the mill and this helped the Mill’s continued to expansion.
Even though the Mill was powered by two big waterwheels the owners recognised that more power was needed and a Steam Engine was installed in 1800 and of course a chimney stack was needed. Success continued to follow the Mill so soon a more powerful engine was needed and the chimney stack needed extending in height. This proved to be an Environmental step too far. The new chimney eject its smoke straight out into the line of cottages on the hillside above the mill.
One of the owners of these cottages sued the company for smoke and dirt pollution and won his case in 1906. The result was that Paper manufacture ceased in 1908 and an era of success came to an end.
The Mill has seen other enterprises from garment and glove manufacture to I understand at one time Gas Masks. To-day it is more at home, providing a home, after some excellent conversions. BUT the Chimney Stack, though unused remains as a landmark within the Valley and a reminder of perhaps the first Environmental Injunction against Pollution !
* At least the main railway line remains, a part of the London Mainline to Sheffield….
6th March
DAVID OAKES - IMAGES. 