Accessibility Guide for Cromford Mills

Travel by public transport

You can get to Cromford Mills by bus and train.

The nearest bus stop is located just outside the Mill and supports buses going between Matlock and Bonsall Buses travelling between Bakewell, Matlock, Belper and Derby can be caught from the bus stop at Cromford Crossroads or Cromford Marketplace. https://bustimes.org/localities/cromford The bus stop is 0.2 miles / 0.3 km from Cromford Mills.

The nearest train station is Cromford. The train station is 0.4 miles / 0.6 km from Cromford Mills.

There is a regular service between Derby and Matlock which stops at Cromford. The trains are operated by East Midlands Trains. Train times can be consulted on their website

Travel by taxi

You can get a taxi with Matlock Bath Taxis by calling 07440 694231. You can get a taxi with Maz Taxis by calling 07970 160659.

There are no local firms that have wheelchair accessible taxi's.

Parking

We have a car park. There are accessible parking spaces. The parking is less than 50 metres from the main entrance. Parking is not free.

Accessible Parking bays are next to the main entrance From the car park to the entrance, there is level access.

It is level, but not smooth. The car park is reasonably level, with a slight slope leading up to the main entrance to the Mill.   The car park is surfaced with rolled limestone, which gives a reasonable surface, but it is not smooth and has some loose stones.  There are dropped kerbs leading to the road, and the crossing point to Wheatcroft's Wharf Cafe and the Grab and Go.

The area closest to the Mill entrance has accessible parking bays.

Path to main entrance

From the street to the main entrance, there is level access.

Main entrance

The main entrance has level access.

We have contrast markings on all glass doors and high colour contrast between walls and doorframes.

Some parts of the venue have low lighting.

Ticket/ information desk

Mill Shop

From the main entrance to the desk, there is level access. There is a portable ramp.

The ticket and information desk is also the main counter in our Mill Shop. Tickets can also be bought online in advance of your visit. 

Things to See and Do

We have a complimentary ticket policy for personal assistants.

Visitor Centre

From the main entrance to this area, there is level access. The route is 1230mm wide, or more. The door is 1230mm wide.

Some display information is low, for wheelchair users. There are seats.

Some videos have subtitles.

The doorway is wide, and whilst it does not have a vision panel, the door is left open during opening hours and a volunteer is on-hand to greet and assist visitors. It is accessed over a narrow cobbled strip.

The Visitor Centre consists of two rooms connected by a long ramp.  The first room gives the Visitor information all about the Derwent Valley World Heritage Site, through tactile displays and touch screen monitors at sitting height.  There is an activity space both to the inside and outsideof the door. There is also a video taking the Visitor on a whistle stop tour of the Derwent Valley, which has subtiltles, but no audio descriptive track. There is a viewing area consisting of benches with space for wheelchairs at either side. At the left hand side of this room is an accessible toilet.

The second room is accessed up a long ramp. It describes Cromford Mills place on the global stage, looks at the history of the Slave Trade and also tracks the later story of Cromford Mills,  and from there leads through into the Arkwright Experience.

Both rooms are wide and spacious and are clear of obstacles and projections.

Mobile phone signal is patch on the site, but Wi-fi is availble.

 

The Arkwright Experience

From the main entrance to this area, there is level access. There is a permanent ramp.

The Arkwright Experience is only viewed with a Tour Guide. It is accessed by a ramp, and then through two heavy doors, which are opened by the Tour Guide. It is dark and cold in this room, which is the first successful cotton spinning mill in the world. If you ask them, the tour guide can leave the lights on during the Experience. The hollogram begins on the wall behind the main feature, and then swiftly moves round to take place in the main space of the Mill building.

Tour Guide Room and Exhibition Area

From the main entrance to this area, there is 1 step. There is no lift and no ramp.

Some display information is low, for wheelchair users. There are seats.

The Tour Guides give their own illustrated talks and will suit their presentations to the people on the guided tour.  The step into the room is a slight lip of 30mm. 

Spectator/ Audience viewing areas

There are stewards to help disabled visitors.

We have a viewing area for wheelchair users.

Derwent Valley Mills Video

From the main entrance to the viewing area, there is level access. The wheelchair spaces are sheltered. Personal assistants and friends can sit with wheelchair users.

The video describes the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site.  It is accompanied by subtitles, but does not have an audio description track. The seating is inside the Visitor Centre, and has space at each end of the row for wheelchair users.  There are subtitles on the screen, but no audio descriptive track.

Public toilet

Main Yard Toilets

There is a public toilet for disabled visitors.

From the main entrance to the public toilet, there is level access. There is a permanent ramp.

The route is 720mm wide, or more.

The toilet door is 720mm wide.

The direction of transfer onto the toilet is to the right.

There is 1400mm in front of the toilet. The toilet seat is 490mm high. The toilets have handrails.

The toilet block has an outer, automatic door operated by sensor to this door as well as a ‘push button’ facility, both inside and outside. The external door, however, is only 720mm wide. (The accessible toilet in the Visitor Centre has a wider entrance.)

There is a ramp up to this toilet 1300mm wide. There is a single rail at a height of 1 metre to both sides of the ramp.  Alternatively, there are two steps to access the toilet from the opposite side to the ramp. These have a tread of 300mm and a rise of 160mm.

ACCESSIBLE TOILET. The door to the accessible toilet is 880mm wide. It is an outward opening door, with a grab rail on the inside of the door to assist with opening and closing. 

The room measures 1600mm x 2150mm.

The toilet is a Right-Hand transfer, with a 1400mm space in front of the accessible toilet.  There is good visual contrast with blue grab-rails against the white background, although the toilet seat is white against a white background.

The sink has a lever tap, and the height to the top of the sink is 700mm. The emergency pull cord hangs right to the floor, there is an electric hand dryer and a general waste bin.

LADIES TOILET. There are three cubicles in the Ladies toilet, one of which has an outward opening door with hooks to the inside, intended for ambulant visitors with access needs. The door to this toilet is only 640mm wide and there are no grab-rails in this cubicle.

GENTS TOILET. There is one cubicle in the Gents toilet and two urinals at different heights.

BABY CHANGING FACILITY. The baby changing room has no ‘knee room’ beneath for wheelchair users wishing to change their baby. The door is quite narrow to facilitate wheelchair access, measuring 700mm wide.

A CHANGING PLACES TOILET is situated across the road from the Mill in the Derbyshire County Council carpark.

Public toilet

Visitor Centre Toilets

There is a public toilet for disabled visitors.

From the main entrance to the public toilet, there is level access. The route is 850mm wide, or more.

The toilet door is 850mm wide.

The direction of transfer onto the toilet is to the right.

There is 1250mm in front of the toilet. The toilet seat is 480mm high. The toilets have handrails.

The clear opening door width is 850mm, and the room measures 1500mm x 2000mm. There is an outward opening door’ with a grab-rail on the inside of the door to assist with opening and closing. There is good visual contrast in the room, and a shelf by the toilet.

The toilet is a ‘Right-Hand transfer’ with 1250mm space available in front of the toilet.

The sink, with lever tap, is at a height of 740mm to the top and 700mm to the bottom edge. There is general waste bin, an emergency pull-cord reaching to the floor, and an electric hand drier. There is a mirror on the back of the door, which can be accessed by all.

There is a second toilet in the Arkwright Experience.  It is a form of accessible toilet, with an emergency pull-cord to the floor and lever taps.  This toilet is a Left-Hand transfer – the only one on the Cromford Mills site.

There is also a baby changing facility in this toilet.

There is a mirror but this is at a height which is not accessible by wheelchair users, and the visual contrast in this toilet is not good, with a white toilet seat on white porcelain.

Derbyshire County Council have provided a Changing Places Toilet in their carpark on the other side of the road to the main Cromford Mills Site.

Public toilet

Changing Places Toilet

There is a public toilet for disabled visitors.

The toilet is a Changing Places toilet.

You need a RADAR key to open the public toilet.

From the main entrance to the public toilet, there is level access.

This Changing Places toilet is provided by Derbyshire County Council and is located in their carpark accross the road from Cromford Mills at Cromford Wharf.  (For full details check out their website:  https://www.derbyshire.gov.uk/social-health/adult-care-and-wellbeing/get...)

Shop

The Mill Shop

From the main entrance to the shop, there is level access. There is a portable ramp.

The Mill Shop is also the main Ticket desk.  It does not have a low level counter, but staff are happy to help if needed.  The Mill Shop sells a variety of souveniers and gifts, and there are also some sensory toys available for sale in the shop.

Shop

The Countryside Bookshop

From the main entrance to the shop, there are 2 steps. There is no lift and no ramp.

There is an outer manual door with a clear opening door width of 1060mm, and an inner manual door of 930mm.  both these doors are open when the shop is open

There is a slight tip to the outer door, and a step of 140mm to the inner door.

Circulation space in the shop is currently limited.

Shop

Heritage Antiques & Collectibles

From the main entrance to the shop, there is 1 step. There is no lift and no ramp.

The route through the shop is 800mm wide, or more.

There is an outer door with a clear opening width of 1050mm, and an inner door of 700mm, with a small lip over the threshold of 35mm.

The internal space has a width of between 900mm and 1100mm throughout.

Shop

Netty Reddish

From the main entrance to the shop, there is level access. The route is 840mm wide, or more. The door is 840mm wide.

The route through the shop is 800mm wide, or more.

There are double outer doors with a clear opening door width of 1900mm in total.

There is an inner door with a clear opening door width of 840mm.

The internal space has a width of between 780mm and 970mm.

Shop

WeaveKnitit

From the main entrance to the shop, there is level access. The route is 840mm wide, or more. The door is 840mm wide.

There are double outer doors with a clear opening door width of 1900mm in total.

There is an inner door with a clear opening door width of 840mm.

Shop

Cromford Mills Cheese Shop

From the main entrance to the shop, there is level access. There is a permanent ramp. The route is 800mm wide, or more. The door is 800mm wide.

The route through the shop is 800mm wide, or more.

The width inside the shop varies from 900mm to 1100mm.

Shop

Cromford Mills Antiques

From the main entrance to the shop, there is 1 step. There is no lift and no ramp.

The route through the shop is 800mm wide, or more.

The outer, manual door has a clear opening door width of 1070mm.

The inner, manual door has a clear opening door width of 1050mm. The height of this door is 1860mm.

There is a small step to access the unit.

There is relatively good circulation space within this unit, with aisle widths of 850mm, 980mm and 1200mm.

There are magnifying glasses available for visitors who require them.

Dogs are not allowed in this space apart from Guide dogs. This is clearly indicated on-site.

Place to eat and drink

Arkwright's Café

From the main entrance to the dining area, there is level access. There is a permanent ramp. To get to a table, there are no steps.

The dining area is self-service. If you need table service, staff can help you.

There is background music.

We cater for vegetarian, gluten free (celiacs), lactose free (dairy free), nut free and vegan specific diets.

Tables can be reserved in the café, and table service is available for visitors who need it. although there is no lower counter, staff will come round to take an order. Dietary requirements are catered for including vegetarian and vegan options. The menu is written in larger text on a blackboard. The tables inside are at a height of 710mm to the underside, enabling wheelchair users to wheel easily underneath. Outside, they are at a height of 700mm.  

Mobile phone signal is patch on the site, but Wi-fi is availble.

Place to eat and drink

Wheatcroft's Wharf Café

From the main entrance to the dining area, there is level access. To get to a table, there are no steps.

The dining area is self-service. If you need table service, staff can help you.

There is background music.

We cater for vegetarian, gluten free (celiacs), lactose free (dairy free) and vegan specific diets.

Wheatcrofts Café is situated on the opposite side of Mill Lane to the main Mill site.  There are dropped kerbs to access it, and a surface of rolled pressed limestone.  The glass doors have transfers on them.  The upstairs is not accessible to people in wheelchairs.  There is a very small toilet on the first floor. 

Mobile phone signal is patch on the site, but Wi-fi is availble.

Place to eat and drink

Counting House Coffee Stop (Takeaway)

From the main entrance to the dining area, there is 1 step. There is no lift and no ramp.

We cater for vegetarian, gluten free (celiacs), lactose free (dairy free) and vegan specific diets.

The Counting House Coffee Stop is a grab and go facility where you can pick up a range of food and drinks to eat outside.

Education Room

From the main entrance to this area, there is level access. There is a permanent ramp. The route is 1100mm wide, or more.

The door is 1100mm wide.

This room is mainly used for educational groups, although it can be used for events as well.

Beyond the Mill Walls

The trail is 1000metres long. Some of the trail has a loose surface. A steep route over a mound, restricts access to the riverside section of the path. The trail is sloped. The trail has seats.

The Beyond the Mill Walls project area is just outside Cromford Mills and takes takes the visitor along the River Derwent, through trees and a wildflower meadow.  It  has benches and picnic tables and is home to the Scavengers' Scramble sculpture trail, which has tactile chainsaw sculptures and natural frameworks for children's play.

Church Walk is the main accessible route. It follows the old carriage path between what is now the A6 and St Mary's Church, the pathway is rolled limestone and is flat, but not completely smooth. The path is bordered on one side by a mound covering a pipeline.

The pathway which runs alongside the River Derwent can be accessed over a low section of the pipeline (small mound) at the church end, but it is not suitable for all wheelchair users.  The riverside path runs through a wildflower meadow and the surface is  grass.  There are benches along the route. Please be aware that as you leave the area where the benches are, the path becomes more narrow with an adverse camber, and small treeroots on the surface.

Picnic Area

Beyond the Mill Walls Picnic Area

From the car park to the picnic area, there is level access. Some tables have space for wheelchair users. You can bring your own food to the picnic area.

The Picnic Area is part of the Beyond the Mill Walls Project.  It has tactile chainsaw sculptures for play, and a living willow woven cottage.  There are two benches and two accessible picnic tables.

The pathway from the carpark is rolled limestone.

Picnic Area

Riverside Meadow Picnic tables

Some tables have space for wheelchair users. You can bring your own food to the picnic area.

The wildflower meadow by the riverside has picnic tables dotted throughout the meadow.  The one nearest to the river is an accessible table, and we will be working at improvingthe path to this one.  The others are rached on pathways mown through the meadow.

Mill Yard

From the main entrance to this area, there is level access.

All the buildings of the Mill are reached from the Mill Yard.  The surface consists of rolled limestone and some areas of cobbles: the surface is flat, but uneven.  Some areas have changes in the surface level where the archaeological remains of some of the old mill buildings are on display.

It is possible to get wheelchair access right the way up to the VIsitor Centre at the top of the mill yard, and across the watercourse to the viewing platform.

 

 

Viewing Platform

From the main entrance to this area, there is level access. There is a permanent ramp.

The wooden viewing platfomr is reached form the top end of the yard by crossing the bridge over the watercourse,  This has a slight ramp up and down.  

The Veiwing platform allows visitors to view the wheel pit and the archaeological ruins of the Second Mill.  The waterfall into the wheelpit shows how powerful water can be, and why Sir Richard Arkwright built his mills at Cromford. It is very noisy.

We provide wheelchairs. Wheelchairs are free.

We are part of the Derbyshire County Council tramper hire scheme, and from May 2021 will have a mobility scooter that can be hired in advance.

The walk in the Beyond the Mill Walls area can be used by assistance dogs. Please ensure that you pick up after your dog. We also have dog water bowls throughout the site.

Customer care support

There are there are qualified First Aiders on-site.