Located on the west side of Matlock in the lower part of Lumsdale lies a mill complex dating back to 1783. Originally constructed for the production of candlewick yarn, its use was expanded to take advantage of the booming textile industry in the Derwent Valley. My own experience of it was from the 1970’s onwards, by which time it was used as a bleaching and dye works under the ownership of the Drabble family for more than a century. On more than one occasion I recall chemicals from the works finding their way into the nearby Bentley Brook, killing off fish and other aquatic life not only in the brook, but also at the point the brook entered the river Derwent. Thankfully, these incidents no longer occur as the mill closed in 1999 and has been in a state of gradual dereliction since.

The site has reached a point where nature has reclaimed large areas of it. Roofs have collapsed allowing trees to recolonise the land. I believe there are plans afoot to convert the complex into apartments so I thought I would take a look around before contractors move in.

All images were captured using a Leica SL2-s and 35mm APO Summicron lens.