Lion's head tap stolen from historic mill

Ian Hill hopes the person who took the tap decides to return it

Historians have urged the person who has stolen an "invaluable" feature from a historic mill in Derbyshire to bring it back.

Ian Hill, chair of Belper North Mill Trust, said a 19th Century lion's head tap was taken from the gangway bridge attached to the mill on Monday.

It is thought the tap was added to the bridge, which dates back to the 1790s, to provide drinking water for mill workers and those using the route to travel to Ashbourne.

"We'll be very, very happy to receive it back," said Mr Hill. "You'll be doing a good thing for Belper and for people who know and love the area."

The lion's head tap was installed in 1858

The tap was installed beneath the bridge on the A517 Ashbourne Road in 1858 and is an "important" piece of Belper North Mill, which forms part of the Derwent Valley Mills Unesco World Heritage Site.

"The bridge itself is the oldest part of the North Mill that's above ground, so that dates back to 1795 and the lion's head tap was added later," said Mr Hill.

"It is invaluable. To whoever has taken it, please return it, because its actual value to anyone else is little or nothing.

"Everybody is really, really upset about it and we hope our appeal will lead to some common sense and the return of the lion's head tap."

Mr Hill has asked for the lion's head to be returned to the North Mill Trust Office at Archway House in Belper.

The tap is located on Belper North Mill's gangway bridge