It was set up in 1782 by Ellis Needham and Thomas Frith, both farmers with small estates in the area.

The early spinners, such as Arkwright and Strutt, had been able to attract the families of weavers and framework knitters, so-called "free labour" meaning the employees were not indentured.

In contrast, the area around Litton was sparsely populated by farming people who were scornful of the new cotton industry.

This was intended for the benefit of the child but often it was seen by employers as a source of cheap labour and a way for a parish to relieve itself of responsibility.

Frith fared somewhat better on his farm, and operating a small spinning mill near Tideswell.

Matthew Dickie had Ravenstor built in Miller's Dale as his family residence which was given to the National Trust in 1937 by Alderman J.G.Graves of Sheffield along with 64 acres (260,000 m2) of land, which included a one-mile (1.6 km) stretch of the River Wye and Tideswell Dale, all of which are leased to the Youth Hostel Association and open all year round.