Belper

Belper is a town in Amber Valley that developed along the River Derwent, shaped by its industrial past. The old cotton mills with their distinctive factory buildings still dominate the landscape, surrounded by residential neighborhoods that grew up around the manufacturing center.

Jedediah Strutt founded cotton mills in 1776 that transformed a farming village into a manufacturing powerhouse. This business expanded rapidly through the 1700s and 1800s, becoming one of the largest factory complexes in the English Midlands.

The St Johns Chapel Heritage Centre holds photographs and objects that tell the story of how industry shaped community life here. Walking through these collections, you can see how people adapted to factory work and built new traditions around it.

The town is well connected by train, with a station linking to Derby and Sheffield for day trips or longer visits. The farmers market in the town center happens every second Saturday and is a good time to explore local shops and streets on foot.

The North Mill built in 1804 used innovative fire-resistant iron frame construction that later influenced modern building design. This early use of iron frames as structural support was remarkable for its time and showed new possibilities in construction methods.