EMIAC 92: Cromford Threads - 6th May 2017
EMIAC, East Midlands Industrial Archaeology Conference, comprises societies from across the East Midlands region. In addition to NIAG, the other members are (see the Links page for contact details):
- Derbyshire Archaeology Society
- Leicestershire Industrial History Society
- North-East Derbyshire Industrial Archaeology Society
- Railway & Canal Historical Society – East Midlands Group
- Society for Lincolnshire History & Archaeology
Each of the societies takes it in turn to organise a Heritage Day in their locality.
Heritage Days are held twice a year and are open to anyone with an interest in IA or related historical subjects. The first meeting was held in 1970 with the idea of enabling industrial archaeologists in the East Midlands to get together in different locations to consider topics of mutual interest. No formal organisation exists; the secretaries from each of the organisations meet on a regular basis.
Notes of recent events can be found on the EMIACs Past page.
The culvert carrying the Bonsall Brook under the 1771 mill extension.
Image courtesy of the North East Derbyshire Industrial Archaeology Society.
The next Heritage Day is being organised by North-East Derbyshire Inustrial Archaeology Society and will be held on Saturday 6th May 2017 in Cromford.
The conference programme is:
09:30 Registration
10:00 Welcome and introduction
10:10 From Silk to Cotton: The early factory system in the Derwent Valley
10:45 Lead Mining and Smelting around Wirksworth and Cromford
11:20 Break
11:35 The Life and Times of the Arkwrights
12:10 Johann Gottfried Brügelmann - the Cromford Ratigen story
12:45 EMIAC Business Meeting
13:00 Lunch
14:00 Site visits:
either visit the new Arkwright Experience (entry included in cost of event.
or a virtual tour of Cromford.
or visit Cromford Church, the burial place of the Arkwrights.
16:30 Close of conference
Cost of event: £17.50 (includes entry to Arkwright Experience).
Click here for the booking form.
Cromford Mills, begun by Sir Richard Arkwright in 1771, has been described as the most importants preserved textile heritage site in the world. Now owned by the Arkwright Society, its significance along with that of other sites nearby led to this part of the Derwent Valley being designated a World Heritage Site. This conference, organised by kind cooperation of the Arkwright Society, will explore some of the lesser known connections which led to this small part of Derbyshire assuming such a pivotal role in industrial history.
