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The educational charity which maintains the Cromford Mills heritage attraction is beginning a new chapter after landing grants worth almost £270,000 to reshape the site for the 21st century and reach out to more people than ever before in Derbyshire and beyond.

The Arkwright Society, which has managed the world historic complex since the 1970s, has been awarded £249,599 from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, unlocked thanks to a commitment of £20,000 in match funding from the Duke of Devonshire Charitable Trust.

Chief executive Eilis Scott said: “This funding will help make the society more resilient and deliver a bright and innovative future. Cromford Mills is a very special place within the Derwent Valley World Heritage Site and we want to continue sharing and celebrating the mils and their stories with all our visitors and local businesses.

"This funding will give us greater confidence and resource to develop educational activities and plans, particularly for conservation and sustainability, with our local schools and communities; which is at the heart of what the Arkwright Society is all about.”

Staff at Cromford Mills are celebrating a big lottery win.

She added: “The Arkwright Society is immensely grateful for the ongoing support from National Lottery players and The National Lottery Heritage Fund and the Duke of Devonshire Charitable Trust.”

Sustainability is the overarching theme for the two-year project, which includes a programme of public engagement activities around a new hydro-electric turbine – due to be operational by the end of this summer.

Eilis said: “We want the new waterwheel to be a catalyst for how we think about repurposing old buildings.”

Charity running world famous Derbyshire heritage site celebrates major lottery grant