Following the invention of the flying shuttle for weaving cotton in 1733 the demand for spun cotton increased enormously in England. Machines for carding and spinning had already been developed but were inefficient and the cotton produced was of insufficient quality to form the warp of the weave. In 1769, Arkwright patented a water frame to use the extra power of a water mill. His first mill was the Cromford Mill in 1771. Masson Mill is the third, and was built close by to take advantage of the greater water flow from the River Derwent.
Constructed in brick on a gritstone with stone quoins and window dressings, the original 21 bay 5 storey building was 43.8 metres long and 8.4 metres wide. The staircase and ancillary services were in a central projection leaving production floors uncluttered, This was an important advance in mill architecture. The mill was powered by a single waterwheel which, by 1801, had been replaced by two, a system which continued (with replacement wheels by Wren and Bennet in 1847) until turbines were installed in 1928. In its original form, the mill was built with a high parapet which concealed a low pitch roof but probably at the same time as the second wheel was added c. 1800, the roof was raised, as a result of which the mill acquired a usable sixth storey.[1]
A weir was built across the Derwent to build up a head for Arkwright's Mill and a pre-existing paper mill. It is unusual in that it is convex in form, rather than the usual concave.
Adams, in his "Gem of the Peak"' (1840) said that Masson Mill 'is replete with the improved machinery employed in making cotton thread'. He also described the night time view as 'exceedingly imposing. The spacious mill, with its hundred lights reflecting on the river and the thick foliage, mingling the din of wheels with the noise of the waterfall'.[2]
Buildings were added to the north and west of the mill by c.1835, some of which were subsequently demolished. In 1911, 1928, and more recently in 1998, extensions were added in Accrington brick. The mill chimney dates from 1900, and this and the engine house were the work of Stott and Sons, the famous mill architects.[1]
In 1897 Masson Mill became part of the English Sewing Cotton Company. Kelly's (1908) Directory stated that 'the Masson Cotton Mills .... give employment to many of the inhabitants' [of Matlock Bath]. By 1922 the Masson Cotton Mills were 'now the property of Sir Richard Arkwright and Co. Limited (branch of the English Sewing Cotton Co. Limited)' and the mill continued to a major employer in the area. The mill has been extensively repaired and restored recently. The mill is now home to a museum, and formerly, a retail village, but this did not reopen following the COVID-19 pandemic.[3][4]
Hydroelectric poweredit
The mill has had hydroelectric generators installed in 1995 which generate 240 kW.[5]
^ ab. Archived from the original on 24 October 2008. Retrieved 13 January 2009.
^Andrews, Ann (2009). "Arkwright & His Cotton Mill in Matlock Bath". Archived from the original on 23 October 2006. Retrieved 13 January 2009.
^"Sir Richard Arkwright's Masson Mills". www.massonmills.co.uk. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
^"Great news for historic Masson Mills as new owners announce plans". DerbyshireLive. 9 March 2023. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
^. www.british-hydro.org. Archived from the original on 20 December 2013.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Masson Mills.
Sir Richard Arkwright’s Masson Mills - official site
January 06, 2024
masson, mill, richard, arkwright, water, powered, cotton, spinning, mill, situated, west, bank, river, derwent, matlock, bath, derbyshire, england, this, mill, built, 1783, forms, part, derwent, valley, mills, world, heritage, site, nearby, willersley, castle,. Sir Richard Arkwright s Masson Mill is a water powered cotton spinning mill situated on the west bank of the River Derwent in Matlock Bath Derbyshire in England This mill was built in 1783 It forms part of the Derwent Valley Mills a World Heritage Site Nearby is Willersley Castle the house Richard Arkwright built for himself within the parish of Matlock Masson MillMasson Mill in 2006Location in DerbyshireCottonSpinning Mill Water frame Structural systemBrick on Gritstone LocationMatlock Bath Derbyshire EnglandOwnerArkwrightFurther ownershipEnglish Sewing Cotton Company 1897 Current tenantsMuseum and retail villageCoordinates53 06 46 N 1 33 42 W 53 1128 N 1 5616 W 53 1128 1 5616ConstructionBuilt1783 241 years ago 1783 Renovated1 1800 Raised to 6 floors 2 1835 3 1900 Chimney and Engine HouseFloor count5 of 21 baysFloor area43 8 metres 144 ft long and8 4 metres 28 ft wideDesign teamAwards and prizes and listingsWorld Heritage SiteWater PowerWheelsWren and Bennet in 1847 turbines in 1928 Contents 1 History 2 Hydroelectric power 3 Gallery 4 References 5 External linksHistory editFollowing the invention of the flying shuttle for weaving cotton in 1733 the demand for spun cotton increased enormously in England Machines for carding and spinning had already been developed but were inefficient and the cotton produced was of insufficient quality to form the warp of the weave In 1769 Arkwright patented a water frame to use the extra power of a water mill His first mill was the Cromford Mill in 1771 Masson Mill is the third and was built close by to take advantage of the greater water flow from the River Derwent Constructed in brick on a gritstone with stone quoins and window dressings the original 21 bay 5 storey building was 43 8 metres long and 8 4 metres wide The staircase and ancillary services were in a central projection leaving production floors uncluttered This was an important advance in mill architecture The mill was powered by a single waterwheel which by 1801 had been replaced by two a system which continued with replacement wheels by Wren and Bennet in 1847 until turbines were installed in 1928 In its original form the mill was built with a high parapet which concealed a low pitch roof but probably at the same time as the second wheel was added c 1800 the roof was raised as a result of which the mill acquired a usable sixth storey 1 A weir was built across the Derwent to build up a head for Arkwright s Mill and a pre existing paper mill It is unusual in that it is convex in form rather than the usual concave Adams in his Gem of the Peak 1840 said that Masson Mill is replete with the improved machinery employed in making cotton thread He also described the night time view as exceedingly imposing The spacious mill with its hundred lights reflecting on the river and the thick foliage mingling the din of wheels with the noise of the waterfall 2 Buildings were added to the north and west of the mill by c 1835 some of which were subsequently demolished In 1911 1928 and more recently in 1998 extensions were added in Accrington brick The mill chimney dates from 1900 and this and the engine house were the work of Stott and Sons the famous mill architects 1 In 1897 Masson Mill became part of the English Sewing Cotton Company Kelly s 1908 Directory stated that the Masson Cotton Mills give employment to many of the inhabitants of Matlock Bath By 1922 the Masson Cotton Mills were now the property of Sir Richard Arkwright and Co Limited branch of the English Sewing Cotton Co Limited and the mill continued to a major employer in the area The mill has been extensively repaired and restored recently The mill is now home to a museum and formerly a retail village but this did not reopen following the COVID 19 pandemic 3 4 Hydroelectric power editThe mill has had hydroelectric generators installed in 1995 which generate 240 kW 5 Gallery editMasson Mill nbsp nbsp nbsp Carding and spinning nbsp Six cylinder devil nbsp Carder nbsp Platt Bros muleLoom collection nbsp Lancashire loom nbsp Yorkshire broadloom nbsp British Northrop loom nbsp England portal nbsp United Kingdom portal nbsp Transport portal nbsp Renewable energy portalReferences edit a b Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Sites Massons Mill Archived from the original on 24 October 2008 Retrieved 13 January 2009 Andrews Ann 2009 Arkwright amp His Cotton Mill in Matlock Bath Archived from the original on 23 October 2006 Retrieved 13 January 2009 Sir Richard Arkwright s Masson Mills www massonmills co uk Retrieved 18 August 2023 Great news for historic Masson Mills as new owners announce plans DerbyshireLive 9 March 2023 ISSN 0307 1235 Retrieved 18 August 2023 Masson Mill British Hydropower Association www british hydro org Archived from the original on 20 December 2013 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Masson Mills Sir Richard Arkwright s Masson Mills official site Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Masson Mill amp oldid 1172621458, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
