Torr Vale Mill facts for kids
Torr Vale Mill, alongside The River Goyt, Millennium Walkway and Hope Valley line
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 Location in Borough of High Peak
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| Cotton | |
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| Spinning Weaving (Watermill) | |
| Location | New Mills, Derbyshire, England |
| Serving canal | Peak Forest Canal |
| Serving railway | Hope Valley line |
| Coordinates | 53°21′53″N 2°00′12″W / 53.3648°N 2.0032°W |
| Construction | |
| Built | 1790 |
| Floor count | 5 |
| Floor area | 800 square metres (8,600 sq ft) |
| Water Power | |
| Wheels | 2 (decommissioned) |
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Listed Building – Grade II
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| Reference no. | 1119721 |
Torr Vale Mill is an old cotton mill located in New Mills, Derbyshire, England. It's a very important historical building, officially listed as 'Grade II*'. The mill sits on a small rocky area at the bottom of the Torrs gorge, right by the River Goyt.
Contents
History of Torr Vale Mill
Torr Vale Mill was built in the late 1780s by a person named Daniel Strafford. It was first known as Stratford's Mill. The mill used two large waterwheels to power its machines. These machines would spin cotton into thread and weave it into fabric.
Powering the Mill
In 1856, the mill was rebuilt, and a steam engine was added. This meant it could use both steam and water power. This continued until the 1940s, when electricity became the main power source.
Long-Lasting Production
Torr Vale Mill kept making towelling products until December 2000. This makes it the place with the longest continuous period of cotton production in the UK!
Recent Changes and Future Plans
Since 1998, new owners have been working to fix up and develop the mill. A new events floor has been created and is used by the community. Groups like the Torr Vale Mill Preservation Trust and The Princes Regeneration Trust are also trying to help save this historic building.
Torr Vale Mill in Art and History
In 2000, Torr Vale Mill was featured on Royal Mail postage stamps. This was to celebrate the Millennium Walkway in the Torrs Gorge. From this walkway, you can get amazing views of the mill.
Challenges and Recognition
Sadly, in 2001, a fire damaged one of the mill buildings. The mill has faced challenges and is on the English Heritage Heritage at Risk Register. This list includes important buildings that are in danger of falling apart.
In 2010, a local artist named Chad Bevan won an award for his painting of the mill. His painting, called 'Lowes Mill', showed the mill as it was decaying. Local groups are working hard to protect this important piece of history.
