History
Water power has been used successfully to
provide mechanical power for many mills sites
in the UK and overseas both before and during
the industrial revolution. In fact waterpower
was the key driver of probably the first
industrial revolution in the 14th and 15th
centuries. Historically many mill sites have
existing civil engineering structures that are still in place
alongside water courses and many are in reasonable working order.
Unfortunately, the demand for higher powers for greater production, the advent of steam
power, central station electricity generation, the internal combustion engine and cheap
fuels led to the demise of watermills and waterpower within Europe and the UK. In fact
of the estimated 30,000 working mill sites in the early to mid 19th century, less than
1,000 remain and less than 400 have been restored or maintained. Of these only a
small number, less than 50 have been modernised to utilise the power to efficiently
generate electricity and most of these are stand-alone charging batteries used for
heating and to provide power to houses, farms and other small businesses.
Historical context
Darley has a rich history of mills driven by hydro power. Darley Mill one of 8 manorial mills in Darley was built in the 17th century on the banks of Darley Beck; one of many streams that flows into the River Nidd. A flour mill originally, with a miller's cottage and walled garden added in 1761, the Mill was re-powered by a large locally manufactured iron and wooden waterwheel (J. Todd of Summerbridge Foundry) in 1874. The 27ft (4.5m) pitch breast shot wheel finally ceased to operate in the 1950's; though it continued to operate sporadically as a tourist attraction until the early part of the 21st century. In the early days the waterwheel was totally covered by a single pitched roof; once this was removed the wooden constructed buckets and spokes deteriorated.
In the 1980's after various periods of inaction the mill was purchased by Ponden Mill Limited. Darley Mill was then carefully restored (1985) into a retail outlet selling a variety of linens, crafts and clothing. The mill building is listed, and it retains much of the original machinery, including the waterwheel. The waterwheel is powered from the mill race by an overhead chute. The building nestles in a valley by the River Nidd, while the Mill took grain from the surrounding area for grinding into flour. A miller's cottage with a walled garden was added to the main building in 1761. Restoration work commissioned by the previous owners in the early 1980's and carried out by local craftsmen took 6 months and used 5 tons of Elm and 2000 nuts and bolts. Previously the wheel had been renovated in 1922 by Charles Skaife who was the last serious miller to operate and own the mill. In the 19th century a steam engine with a large chimney was added which drove a horizontal beam engine on the site.
New lease of life
Darley Mill had a change of ownership in January 2009 and is now owned by Ross Leventhal, Managing Director of The Yorkshire Linen Co and both the Mill Buildings and the water wheel have been given a new lease of life.