Belper Mill- The Industrial Revolution

• LessonUp
• Primary Education
• Lower Secondary (Key Stage 3)
• Upper Secondary (Key Stage 4)

Belper Mill

By Evie Hayward

Photos featured by Evie Hayward & Violet Watson

The Strutt Family

Second generation: The mill was run by Jedidiah Strutt's son, William Strutt, who continued the modernisation process.

Model village: The mill complex included a model village, designed by Strutt, to house the workers and provide a measure of social control and housing.

National Trust: Parts of the mill complex are now owned and operated by the National Trust, preserving this important historical site. Technological advancements: The mill demonstrates the rapid pace of technological innovation during the Industrial Revolution, with improvements in machinery and power sources. 

The Strutt family used water to power Belper Mill through a system of water wheels and channels that harnessed the energy of the Derwent River. Here's how they did it:

Water Source: The Derwent River provided a reliable source of flowing water, which was essential for powering early industrial machinery.

Water Channels and Tunnels: The Strutts constructed aqueducts, channels, and tunnels to direct water from the river to the mill site. These channels controlled the flow and ensured a steady supply of water.

Water Wheel: At the mill, a large water wheel was installed. The flowing water from the channels struck the wheel's blades, causing it to rotate.

Power Transmission: The rotation of the water wheel was transferred via a system of gears and belts to drive the spinning frames and other machinery inside the mill.

Efficiency: The water wheel's design was optimized to convert water flow into mechanical energy efficiently, allowing the mill to produce yarn and cloth at a larger scale than traditional hand processes.

Transition to Steam Power: As industrial technology advanced, the Strutts later incorporated steam engines to supplement or replace water power, especially during dry seasons when water flow was reduced.

This use of water power was a key innovation during the early Industrial Revolution, enabling mass production and the growth of the textile industry in Belper and beyond.

This was the channel that powered the North, East and West mills. all this water is from the River Derwent.

They used this to shut off and on the weir for power to the mill. Nowadays, there is a button which is pressed in Buxton.

Fun Facts 

Did you know that the first mill (The South Mill) was built in 1776 and was knocked down in 1962, The North Mill was established in 1786 but was destroyed in 1803 by fire and was rebuilt in 1804 as a fire proof & iron framed structure. The West Mill was built in 1796, The Round Mill was built in 1813. The Jubilee Clock Tower was built in honour of Queen Victoria who also toured the Mill when she was a Princess. The East Mill was established in 1912 and it still remains standing today. The West & South Mills got demolished between 1950-1967.

The Mill Workers

The mill workers at Belper Mill under the Strutt family experienced a unique social environment, especially because the Strutts were known for their relatively progressive approach to worker welfare. Here are some key points about the workers and their conditions:

Housing and Community:

The Strutt family built a model village around the mill, called Belper Village, to house their workers. The houses were well-built and provided decent living conditions compared to other industrial towns at the time.

Worker Welfare:

The Strutts believed in providing for their workers’ welfare. They established amenities like schools, churches, and shops within the village to support education and community life.

Working Conditions:

While working hours were long—common during the Industrial Revolution—Strutt’s mills were considered better than many other factories. They implemented measures to improve safety and working conditions, though life was still demanding.

Employment:

The mills provided stable employment for many local people, helping to sustain the economy of Belper and surrounding areas.

Social Impact:

The Strutt family’s approach fostered a sense of community and loyalty among workers, which was somewhat progressive for the period.

Labour Movements:

Despite these efforts, workers still faced challenges typical of the era, such as strict discipline, repetitive labour, and limited rights, which eventually contributed to the rise of labour movements.

Overall, the workers at Belper Mill benefited from the Strutt family’s relatively enlightened approach, but like all factory workers of the time, they endured long hours and hard conditions.

Children of The Mill

Child Labour in the Mills:

Many children worked in Belper Mill and other nearby mills from a young age. They often started working as early as 6 or 7 years old, performing tasks like operating small machines, picking lint, or helping with other chores.

Long Working Hours:

Child workers typically worked long hours, sometimes up to 12-14 hours a day under challenging and often unsafe conditions.

Child Labour Laws:

Due to the harsh conditions, laws were introduced gradually to limit child labour, such as the Factory Acts (starting in 1833), which set minimum working ages and restricted working hours for children.

Education for Children:

The Strutt family and the local community recognised the importance of education. They established schools for the children of mill workers, which was on the top floor of the mill until long row school was built in 1818.

When the mills were built the houses across the river were made use of by either the Strutt's trustworthy manager to keep an eye on the mills.

The other was the cottage of Mrs Strutt who cared for injured workers before Babington Hospital was made.

The Strutt Family

The Strutt family primarily made cotton yarn and textiles at Belper Mill. Their main products included:

Cotton yarn: The mill spun raw cotton into yarn, which was then used to make fabric.

Cloth and textiles: The yarn produced was woven into various types of fabric, including plain and patterned textiles.

Other cotton products: Over time, they may have expanded into different cotton goods, but their main focus was on spinning cotton into yarn for use in textile manufacturing.

The Strutts played a significant role in developing the cotton industry during the Industrial Revolution, helping to produce large quantities of fabric efficiently.

Belper Mill

Belper Mill, located in Derbyshire, England, is significant for its role in the Industrial Revolution. It was founded by Jedediah Strutt, a key figure in the development of the cotton industry.

Early innovations: Strutt's mill incorporated significant innovations, including the water-powered spinning frame, and later, steam power.

Water power: The mill initially relied heavily on the Derwent River for water power, a crucial aspect of early industrialisation.

Cotton production: The mill was primarily involved in the production of cotton yarn and cloth, a major industry of the time.

Impact on the town: The mill's establishment had a dramatic impact on the town of Belper, creating jobs and fundamentally altering the local economy and social structure.