The Arkwright Society

The Arkwright Society were successful in receiving a demonstrator grant that enabled them to reinstate renewable water energy at Cromford Mill.

They are committed to preserving the heritage and history of Cromford Mill. The historic site features a state-of-the-art visitor centre, café’s, shops, and office space and regularly welcomes educational visits as well as hosting other festivals and events.

The Arkwright Society had a vision to reinstate renewable water energy which would help cut energy bills, reduce carbon emissions, and provide community funding to help maintain historic waterways. 

The ambitious project at Cromford Mill aimed to:

• Reinstate hydropower and a waterwheel
• Install water source heating in one of the mill buildings
• Refurbish and recommission the hydro scheme in Cromford village
• Create interpretive materials to encourage visitors to engage with renewable energy and climate change

The Society were successful in applying for GEP grant funding of £198,230, and this along with other successful grant funding applications and fundraising activities has seen the Waterpower project completed and after 200 years a working waterwheel returned to its original location.

The project has been complex due to the age and condition of the site and contractors have worked closely with archaeologists to ensure heritage stonework is preserved.  It has been a timely but worthwhile process. Keen to reduce carbon emissions at all stages of the project, the majority of contractors utilised at the building stage lived within a 5 mile radius of Cromford.  Along with the turbine and waterwheel at the Mill, the village hydro system has been refurbished and a Community Interest Company created to manage this part of the project.

Chief Executive, Eilis Scott commented:

“With the financial support, we have been able to pursue our ambition of reintroducing waterpower to this historic site.  The installation of the turbine and water wheel has not only started generating electricity, leading to tangible benefits in reducing our electricity bills, it is providing our visitors and educational groups / schools with an immersive and enhanced educational experience, deepening their understanding of waterpower.  This project shows what can be achieved on a community level and we see this project as a catalyst for developing further renewable energy potential on site and striving towards carbon neutrality”.