World Heritage site mill museum to close after council pulls funding

A museum at the heart of a World Heritage site is set to close after losing council funding.

Amber Valley Borough Council has withdrawn a grant worth almost £50,000 for Strutt’s North Mill Museum in Belper, Derbyshire, meaning it will close in September.

The space is be let out for commercial use from October.

The Grade I listed mill building is described as one of the most important at the World Heritage site and contains machinery and memorabilia relating to textile production and the Strutt family, who built a manufacturing complex there.

Belper North Mill Trust said: “Following the ending of the £47,600 AVBC grant in March 2022 and the landlords plan to let the museum space at commercial levels from October 2022, the Trust is not able to run the museum on a financially viable basis.

“We would be incurring annual losses of circa £70,000, which is clearly not sustainable. The museum will therefore close at the end of October 2022.

“Arranging the closure means that public access will cease at the end of September 2022. Ongoing discussions are taking place with the landlord to retain public access to the basement which would allow public access to that area.

“We will work with Arts Council England on actions to maintain our current museum accreditation, this is so we can keep the option of re-opening a museum in the future.”

Amber Valley Borough Council has been approached for comment.