Page "Derwent Valley Mills" Paragraph 11

Arkwright had a reputation as a paternalistic employer who was concerned for the well-being of his employees and their families.

A Sunday School was built at Cromford in 1785 and provided education to 200 children.

By 1789, the Cromford Estate was back in the ownership of the Arkwrights, who actively influenced its structure and construction.

Cromford was given a market place to act as a new focus for the village.

Arkwright organised a market every Sunday and as incentive to attend, gave annual prizes to those who attended most often.

After Arkwright died in 1792 his son, Richard Arkwright junior, took over and sold most of his cotton mills outside Cromford and Matlock Bath.

The mills in Cromford and Matlock Bath were probably retained to support the Willersley Estate.

Societies and clubs were created in Cromford.

The religious affairs of the community were of less interest to Arkwright, and it was not until 1797 that Arkwright junior established Cromford Church ; his father had envisaged it as a private chapel for the Arkwright family at Willersley Castle.

The family's attempts to make Cromford self sustaining through establishing a market was successful, and the village expanded until about 1840.

This was even though the mills had passed their zenith and begun to enter decline in this period.