 What
initially started out as an idea of helping to combat climate change
and provide funding for New Mills projects back in 2006 has now
come to fruition with Torrs Hydro New Mills starting to produce
electricity on Thursday 4 September 2008 and has become the first
community owned scheme of this type in the country.
On the site of Torr Mill, which was destroyed by fire in 1912, now
stands a 12 tonne reverse Archimedes screw capable of producing
63 kilowatts of electricity - the screw itself is sited in exactly
the same position as the original water wheel that powered the original
mill back in the 19th Century.
In March 2008 excavation of the old Torr Mill site started, alongside
the excavation a six week archaeological study took place - a report
on the survey can be viewed in the New Mills Heritage Centre or
New Mills Public Library - the project involved the excavation of
600 tonnes of spoil, the building of a concrete pit and the lowering
of the Archimedes screw 200ft from the Union Road bridge which spans
the Torrs riverside park a feat in itself.
The Hydro Electricity scheme supported by the Town Council was funded
by a shares issue, grants and a medium term bank loan - the majority
of share holders live in the New Mills area.
The ‘not for profit’ organisation ‘Torrs Hydro
New Mills Ltd’ who own the Archimedes Screw and manage the
site will use all profits from the scheme to provide grants to assist
local projects - the company is run.
Additional up-to-date information on the scheme and details on the
construction phase can be found on www.torrs-hydro-new-mills.blogspot.com.
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