1. The History
Just north-east of Matlock the Bentley Brook flows through the wooded gorge of the Lumsdale Valley where there are located six disused water wheels and three mill ponds. Bentley Brook has been harnessed by the mills in the valley over several centuries. In the now overgrown ruins, the "Bone Mill" (mill no.1) can be dated to the 16th century. It was used to grind-up the bones of animals for fertiliser up until the 1920s. Its wheel pit remains, as does the tailrace (the part below the water wheel where the spent water flows) leading back into Bentley Brook. Nearby is the picturesque pond the Lower Dam, which was built in 1830 to harness the Brook. The reservoir is stone-lined and features a central drain plug. Still-visible on the dam's wall and dating from 1850 is a metal pipe that conducted water to the wheel of a second mill that functioned as a "Saw-Mill" (mill no.2) until the end of the 20th century. Below that, near the path, is a millstone imported from the Massif Central in France. Further on down the steps is "Paint Mill" (mill no.3), named so as it was predominantly used to grind white barytes for the paint industry. A fourth mill, the "Grinding Mill" (mill no.4) is next to the Brook's largest waterfall and dates from the 1770s and was used to grind corn and minerals.
On from these falls is a fifth mill known as the "Upper Bleach Mill" (mill no.5). It retains the remains of its bleaching vats and was linked to the last of the mills, Garton Mill (mill no.6), by a train system used to carry heavy loads of cotton between the two mills. Garton Mill is the largest and best preserved of the mill and was built around 1785 by Watts Lowe and Co for spinning cotton. Sadly, the mill was not a success from a commercial perspective and the company went bankrupt by 1813. After that the valley was sold on to John Garton who converted the mill to bleaching extending its life into the early 1900s and giving rise to its alternative name of the Lower Bleach Mill".
A tragedy incident on 10th December 1965 pays witness to the power of Bentley Brook when heavy rain caused major flooding and the deaths of three people including, George Ellis, a 58-year-old railway worker, who was found dead in the brook in Matlock two days after last been seen attempting to cross a flooded car park bordering the brook.
2. The Explore
Been here a couple of times. The first time in October 2014 and more recently in July 2006. The mills are pretty much open access, so it is an easy explore. Never posted it back at the time. Maybe I thought it was a bit too tame. That aside, it is a really lovely and atmospheric place.
3. The Pictures
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Just north-east of Matlock the Bentley Brook flows through the wooded gorge of the Lumsdale Valley where there are located six disused water wheels and three mill ponds. Bentley Brook has been harnessed by the mills in the valley over several centuries. In the now overgrown ruins, the "Bone Mill" (mill no.1) can be dated to the 16th century. It was used to grind-up the bones of animals for fertiliser up until the 1920s. Its wheel pit remains, as does the tailrace (the part below the water wheel where the spent water flows) leading back into Bentley Brook. Nearby is the picturesque pond the Lower Dam, which was built in 1830 to harness the Brook. The reservoir is stone-lined and features a central drain plug. Still-visible on the dam's wall and dating from 1850 is a metal pipe that conducted water to the wheel of a second mill that functioned as a "Saw-Mill" (mill no.2) until the end of the 20th century. Below that, near the path, is a millstone imported from the Massif Central in France. Further on down the steps is "Paint Mill" (mill no.3), named so as it was predominantly used to grind white barytes for the paint industry. A fourth mill, the "Grinding Mill" (mill no.4) is next to the Brook's largest waterfall and dates from the 1770s and was used to grind corn and minerals.
On from these falls is a fifth mill known as the "Upper Bleach Mill" (mill no.5). It retains the remains of its bleaching vats and was linked to the last of the mills, Garton Mill (mill no.6), by a train system used to carry heavy loads of cotton between the two mills. Garton Mill is the largest and best preserved of the mill and was built around 1785 by Watts Lowe and Co for spinning cotton. Sadly, the mill was not a success from a commercial perspective and the company went bankrupt by 1813. After that the valley was sold on to John Garton who converted the mill to bleaching extending its life into the early 1900s and giving rise to its alternative name of the Lower Bleach Mill".
A tragedy incident on 10th December 1965 pays witness to the power of Bentley Brook when heavy rain caused major flooding and the deaths of three people including, George Ellis, a 58-year-old railway worker, who was found dead in the brook in Matlock two days after last been seen attempting to cross a flooded car park bordering the brook.
2. The Explore
Been here a couple of times. The first time in October 2014 and more recently in July 2006. The mills are pretty much open access, so it is an easy explore. Never posted it back at the time. Maybe I thought it was a bit too tame. That aside, it is a really lovely and atmospheric place.
3. The Pictures
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