Cromford Wharf facts for kids

Cromford Wharf is a historic place in Cromford, Derbyshire, England. It's located at the very start of the Cromford Canal, which opened way back in 1794. This canal was 14.5 miles (23 km) long and connected Cromford to the Erewash Canal in Derbyshire.

The wharf is on Mill Lane, right across from Richard Arkwright's famous Cromford Mill. Today, you can still see some of the original buildings. These include two large warehouses (one is now a cafe!), an office building called a counting house, and two small cottages. Long ago, a stone wall surrounded the entire wharf, but most of those older parts are gone now. The open area of the wharf is used as a car park today.

What is Cromford Wharf?

Cromford Wharf was a busy hub for moving goods by boat. It was the main place where goods were loaded onto or unloaded from canal boats. Think of it like a train station, but for boats!

The Canal Warehouse

The main Canal Warehouse was built in 1794, soon after the canal opened. It's sometimes called the Gothic Warehouse because of its unique design, which includes fancy castle-like decorations. These decorations were probably added because Sir Richard Arkwright could see the warehouse from his home, Willersley Castle.

This warehouse was owned by Nathaniel Wheatcroft, who was a big transporter of goods on the canal. Today, the Arkwright Society looks after the warehouse. They use some rooms for classrooms and sometimes hold public exhibitions there. The Society also offers tours of the wharf and the canal, which is a great way to learn about its history.

The Second Warehouse

Another warehouse was built in 1824. This building was used to store goods safely before they were loaded onto boats. It had a special overhanging roof to protect items from the weather. Now, you can find a cafe and a wildlife shop on the ground floor of this building. It's a nice spot to grab a snack and learn about local nature.

Other Important Buildings

• The Counting House: Construction on this office building began in 1794. This is where the wharf's business was managed, and records were kept.
• The Wharf Cottages: These two cottages were built in 1796. They were homes for the staff who worked at the wharf, like clerks or managers.

Exploring the Area

The canal towpath starts right at Cromford Wharf. A towpath is a path next to a canal where horses used to walk to pull the boats. You can follow this path all the way to High Peak Junction, which is the start of the High Peak Trail. You can even walk as far as Whatstandwell and Ambergate.

This 6-mile (10 km) section of the canal is very special for nature. It's listed as a Biological Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). This means it's a protected area because of its important plants and animals. It's also part of the Derwent Valley Heritage Way, a long-distance walking route.

Images for kids

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  A former transit shed at Cromford Wharf.

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  This building on the wharf is now a cafe.

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  Rear of the buildings at Cromford Wharf.