Oh infamy, infamy. Litton Mill must go down as the place that had it in for children who had little enough chance in life.
“Litton Mill in Miller's Dale was quite notorious for the appalling way it treated its young labour force, which consisted of mainly pauper and orphaned children. They had often been brought here from places as far away as London and had to put up with long hours, meagre food, cramped accommodation, beatings and general abuse by the owners of the mill, the Needham family. Many died as a result of the harsh treatment they received at the hands of Ellis Needham and his sons. They were buried away from the mill to try and hide the truth about what went on, though in reality in those days, few people cared as long as these children were not a burden on local parishes.”
The truth came out in about 1830 and gradually child labour became less cruel as laws were passed to protect youngsters from abuse.
As we approached Litton Mill we crossed over the Monsal Dale Trail – formerly a main line railway between London and Manchester.
A footpath led us to the edge of the River Wye.
We crossed the river on a little footbridge.
These days all is calm.
Old mill buildings still exist. The scene of cruelty and torture is now converted into desirable flats.
Cottages and mill buildings at Litton Mill/
The mill entrance was watched over by a cat in a high window.
More mill and cottages.
Sluice gates control the waters of the Wye. Originally, of course, the mill gained power from the water.
A view between mill buildings showed the cliffs that line the river here.
The forge building at Litton.
Cottages - modern in terms of the days of cruelty - line the river.
We were heading back to that former railway to walk a bit of the Monsal Trail.