Water Frame - Cromford

Cromford

In 1771, Arkwright installed the water frame in his cotton mill at Cromford, Derbyshire, on the River Derwent, creating one of the first factories that was specifically built to house machinery rather than just bringing workers together. It was one of the first instances of the working day being determined by the clock instead of the daylight hours, of people being employed rather than just contracted. In its final form, combined with his carding machine, it was the first truly continuous process. Its social impact was the sheer quantity of thread produced, supplying the new powered looms. One good effect of the frame is that it reduced the amount of human labour needed. One bad effect is that people lost jobs due to it.

Called by his contemporaries "The father of the factory system", he is considered an innovator as he combined water power, the water frame and continuous production with modern employment practices.