Derbyshire Dales

Derbyshire Dales, district, administrative and historic county of Derbyshire, England. About half of the district lies within the scenic Peak District National Park. The Romans mined lead in the area between Wirksworth and Castleton, and lead mining continued until the 19th century. Cotton textiles became important when Sir Richard Arkwright built the first water-powered cotton-spinning mill at Cromford in 1771. Other textile mills soon followed, using waterpower provided by the fast-flowing streams. However, agriculture, mainly...