New Mills

About New Mills

Situated high on the North West of the Derbyshire Peak District, this small town has a rather impressive sandstone gorge known as the Torrs in its centre.

The town can be traced back to the 13th century, and its name from a medieval corn mill known as the New Mill in 1391. Very little is known about this area of Derbyshire before the Domesday. Back then, the area was on the southern edge of the Kings estate known as Longdendale. The New Mill of this period was established around a corn mill, and the area became more established as house appeared in clusters around the mill itself.

Following the increase in water-powered mills in the 18th century, new mills were built around the Torr, a natural gorge running through the centre of the town, on the banks of two rivers, the Sett and the Goyt. Five mills began operating in the area, and the town increased its population and its appearance throughout this period.

The mills and the Torr gorge itself are now part of the New Mills Heritage Centre, which provides a fine set of displays and exhibitions and is well worth a visit.