Iconic Tweed Mill re-opens with new hydro-power water wheel

Local landmark the Dartington Tweed Mill is re-opening after 12 years to house new Cider Press ecommerce business – powered from energy produced by the original water wheel.

The £700,000 project to renovate and re-commission the 1930s Grade 2 listed Tweed Mill, started in early January 2008 and was funded by The Dartington Hall Trust, helped by an £80,000 Devon Renaissance grant.

The historic Tweed Mill, located on the main road between Dartington and Totnes, will now be used by the Dartington Cider Press Centre for their new e-commerce business – along with providing Cider Press staff with greatly improved office space and a vibrant working environment.

The historic water wheel, originally used to directly power the looms, will finally be put into operation as a working hydro power source, producing 3kWh of electricity – enough to power the lights and computers inside the building, with any spare juice going straight back into the National Grid.

Managing Director of the Cider Press Centre John Stainton said, “This is a really satisfying achievement for Dartington, the Cider Press and the local community, as we have managed to breathe new life into an iconic and much loved local landmark, while adding a very special 21st Century twist.”

Vaughan Lindsay Chief Executive of The Dartington Hall Trust said, “To have a non functioning water wheel on the Dartington Tweed Mill seemed a little crazy, especially for a charity seeking to make innovations in sustainability. Therefore part of the work to re-build the Mill has been to turn a decommissioned water wheel into a working hydro power source, which will help us on our mission to become a one planet sustainable estate by 2015.”

The purpose-built Tweed Mill was designed by Oswald P. Milne in 1930 for The Dartington Hall Trust and for over 50 years made up part of the local textile industry. It was completely closed in the late 90s and now after 12 years, the iconic building has been completely renovated and brought back into commission. The wheel itself could start working as early as December, just in time to educate the Christmas shoppers on the amazing renewable energy potential of hydro power.

The Dartington Cider Press online shopping facility will begin preliminary trials from November 15 and will be accessible via www.dartingtonciderpress.co.uk

Everyone is invited to the opening of the newly commissioned building on Thursday 16 October @ 5.30pm, where Chief Executive Vaughan Lindsay will be making a formal presentation to staff and visitors. There will also be opportunities to get a guided tour of the building from 4.30 pm, when John Stainton will be available to talk through the amazing renovation work, the hydro power potential of the water wheel and the new Dartington Cider Press e-commerce business.