See how Aqueduct Cottage Cromford changed between 1910 and 2024. Drag the slider to compare the historic photograph with the modern view.
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## Aqueduct Cottage, Cromford
Built in 1802 by Peter Nightingale, uncle of Florence Nightingale, Aqueduct Cottage served as a lock-keeper's residence at the junction of the Cromford Canal and the Leawood Arm. This canal branch was constructed to transport materials to Nightingale's mills at Lea Bridge. The cottage, originally a single-storey building, was later extended to form a two-bedroom dwelling. The Eaton family occupied it from 1883 until 1946, enduring a lifestyle without modern amenities, relying on natural springs for water and the surrounding landscape for sustenance. After its last resident left in 1970, the cottage fell into disrepair. In 2019, restoration efforts began, culminating in its reopening in 2023 as a visitor centre for the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust. The project received recognition in 2024, being shortlisted for the RIBA MacEwen Award for Heritage Renewal. (derbyshirewildlifetrust.org.uk)
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