AN AMBITIOUS project to transform a 250-year-old Yorkshire Dales water mill into a working example of green power production is nearing completion and could soon be providing electricity to the National Grid.

Ann Kiely at Yore Mill - soon to be supplying 100 homes with
power
Photo: Tony Bartholomew

Yore Mill, in the picturesque setting of Aysgarth Falls in Wensleydale is a Grade 2 listed building built in 1752 as a water powered cotton mill.

In 1937 two hydroelectric turbines were installed in place of the water wheel. These remained in good working order until 1969, when the mill was closed down and its turbines fell into disuse.

Following a £53,000 grant from Defra's Rural Enterprise Scheme, the mill, once work is complete will produce enough power to supply 100 households a day through the National Grid.

David and Ann Kiely acquired Yore Mill In 1993 as a diversification enterprise alongside their pig farming business. David said:

"When we bought Yore Mill it was with the intention of diversifying our farming business. At one time it housed an historic collection of Victorian horse drawn vehicles, but visitor numbers had steadily declined and the collection sold.

"Then Foot and Mouth hit us very badly - we were placed under a total movement ban and in the end had our pigs culled privately on welfare grounds without compensation. Although we're rebuilding the pig business now, we had to find another direction to keep going."

The 18th century Yore Mill
Photo: Tony Bartholomew

Undaunted, the Kielys hit upon the idea of restoring the fifty-year-old commercial turbines and the associated mill features needed to operate them, including the mill race and sluice gates - and generating power to sell to the national grid.

Ann continued: "When we thought it through, the idea made a lot of sense. The turbines were here in situ, we have a powerful water source and we can generate 55KW per hour per day - enough to supply 100 households. We've had tremendous local support for the project too.

"We simply couldn't have contemplated this project without the help of the Defra grant. We're very grateful to Defra for the support they've given us - and proud that the potential of our project has been recognized and backed by the grant."

In the next phase of the project, Ann and David hope to open the mill as a tourist attraction and run tours of the mill and the working turbine house for local schools.

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