Cromford Mill, the world’s first successful water powered cotton spinning mill, was built in 1771 by Sir Richard Arkwright. From then until around 1790, he continued to develop the mills, warehouses and workshops, which now form the Cromford Mills site. Considered as a whole it presents a remarkable picture of an early textile factory complex. The Arkwright Society was founded in the 1970's and purchased the near derelict Cromford Mills Site in 1979. The Society now runs the site as a visitor attraction, with educational facilities, events, shops, two restaurants and workspaces for small businesses. 2016 saw the much awaited opening of the Visitor Gateway & Arkwright Experience, along with Cromford Creative managed office-space. The Arkwright Society also owns the Lumsdale Valley which it manages through a dedicated band of volunteers. FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @CromfordMills, Facebook and Google+