Derby Silk Mill

 The English Sewing Cotton Company had just a brief sojourn in the city of Derby,  although they retained several other mills along the Derwent Valley. The Mill in Derby City centre is now known as the Museum of Making, although for many years prior to this museum opening it was known as Derby Silk Mill.


https://derbymuseums.org/museum-of-making/

I was lucky enough to visit the mill while it was being turned into the Museum of Making, and see behind the scenes as part of my job. I remember it being cold, cavernous and empty. The noise while machinery was operating in that building must have been so damaging.

The ESCC years lasted from just 1897 to 1908 although the mill itself had a much longer history.  It had originally been built in 1717 as a "silk throwing mill" and had been taken over by George Wigley in 1867. Using up to date machinery for the time, they manufactured silks, lace and hosiery among other goods. Wigleys were amalgamated into the ESCC on its establishment in 1897. However, the building was taken over by a chemist company in 1908, signalling the end of the company's brief presence here on this island in the River Derwent. 

I don't know why the company let this mill go. I do know that it isn't a lucky site. The mill has been prone to both fire and flood in its history. Only recently, the Museum of Making had to close its doors for some weeks due to flood damage. Perhaps, with the big modern mill buldings downstream at Belper and Matlock it just wasn't seen as profitable enough.


Have a look at my 20th.century icon book collection on Amazon here


If you'd like me to talk to your group about the English Sewing Cotton Company and you're based in North Derbyshire, North Nottinghamshire or Sheffield area, you can find me on Facebook - search for SewSylko/Sarah Miller Walters. 

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