Photograph of employees outside John Smedley Mills

The John Smedley knitwear company was founded in 1784, at Lea Mills, Matlock, Derbyshire by Peter Nightingale and John Smedley. The brook which ran through Lea Bridge provided power and a constant source of running water for spinning cotton. Towards the end of the 18th century the company had expended its activities to include knitting and hosiery manufacture and by this time John Smedley was running the business alone.

The business in still in operation producing quality knitwear for markets worldwide.