Cool Place of the Day: David Mellor Cutlery Factory

Every day, a new place to discover or explore in the UK, as recommended by coolplaces.co.uk

David Mellor Cutlery Factory, Derbyshire

No, not that David Mellor! We’re talking about the late Derbyshire designer and local Sheffield lad made-good who re-designed the nation’s traffic light system in the 1960s and is perhaps best-known as a silversmith and designer of cutlery. His cool, purpose-built factory, in the Peak District village of Hathersage, is a design icon in its own right, designed by Sir Michael Hopkins and constructed on the site of the local gasworks. Built in local gritstone with a spectacular lead roof, it blends beautifully into the rural landscape in what is in any case a stunning High Peak village. The factory is usually open for tours on weekends at 3pm, when you can view the building and sometimes watch the various designs being made in what is a surprisingly low-tech environment – most of the work is done by hand, and gives you an insight into why David Mellor products are so collectable (and expensive!).

Mellor died in 2009, but his son Corin inherited his talent and is clearly building on his legacy – something you can also see at the excellent factory shop. While here, don't miss the typically classy café, or indeed the fabulous Design Museum, which exhibits the best of Mellor cutlery alongside designs for bus stops, rubbish bins, post boxes and of course those famous traffic lights. No wonder Sir Terence Conran called Mellor "Britain’s greatest post-war product designer."

Martin Dunford is Publisher of Cool Places, a new website from the creators of Rough Guides and Cool Camping, suggesting the best places to stay, eat, drink and shop in Britain (coolplaces.co.uk)