John Smedley factory visit and archive

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09/07/2025 10:30 - 16:00

John Smedley has been a pioneer in designing, manufacturing, and producing high-quality, luxurious knitwear for over 240 years. The factory at Lea Mills, dating from 1784, is an important component of the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site and continues in production today. It is also the home or a remarkable collection of over 23,000 items (examples of products as well as paper records and photographs) that make up the company archive.

Our visit will start with a factory tour to see the production process from yarn to finished garment. After a break for lunch and an opportunity to visit the factory shop, the company’s archivist Jane Middelton Smith will tell us something about the history of the buildings, and an exclusive look into the archive.

Organised by the Industrial Archaeology Section

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    NON MEMBERS WELCOME ON THIS VISIT