Sir Richard Arkwright's Masson Mills

Standing majestically on the banks of the River Derwent at Matlock Bath in Derbyshire are the showpiece Masson Mills of Sir Richard Arkwright, acclaimed as the best preserved and finest surviving example of an Arkwright mill. Home to a working textile museum, which is still weaving cloth, doubling thread and generating electricity from water turbines through state-of-the-art technology for the National Grid, Sir Richard Arkwright's Masson Mills hosted the Arkwright Scholarship Reunion in June 2002. It is therefore relevant and symbolic that the Arkwright Scholarship should, both in name and ideals, be upholding Sir Richard's entrepreneurial and innovative concepts, established over 200 years ago.

Born in 1732, Arkwright's rise from humble beginnings as a barber and wigmaker to Knight of the Realm and High Sheriff of Derbyshire was nothing short of meteoric and his renown as the "Father of the Factory System" justly deserved, for Richard Arkwright possessed the natural skills of innovation and invention along with tenacity and entrepreneurial and organisational genius.

Arkwright is famous for the design and development of a water-powered spinning frame, known as the "water frame", which produced fine, strong cotton thread by utilising a system of rollers rotating at different speeds. His first mill, built in Nottingham in 1769, was followed by mills at Cromford and in many other places in Britain. In 1783, at the height of his entrepreneurial power, he built his showpiece Masson Mills. Sir Richard Arkwright was knighted in 1786 and died in 1792.

Sir Richard Arkwright's Masson Mills extend a very warm welcome to all Arkwright Scholars, who, along with one guest, may enjoy free access at any time during museum opening hours. (Just present your membership card at the museum reception). For full details please phone +44 (0)1629 581001 or visit our website at www.massonmills.co.uk The museum is open every day except Christmas Day and Easter Day.