THE HISTORY OF ELECTRICITY GENERATION AT GAYLE MILL

by Brian Alderson

First Phase

The first house in the world to be lit by electricity generated by water power was Cragside, near Rothbury, in Northumberland, the country seat of the famous engineer, William Armstrong.

Although a genius at inventions, especially hydraulics, he failed in his attempts to develop an efficient water turbine.

There is written evidence that he visited Gayle Mill to view the recently installed 1878 Thomson Double Vortex turbine manufactured by Williamson Bros. of Kendal. Suitably impressed by his visit and the efficiency of the turbine, he ordered an identical one from Gilbert Gilkes who had taken over the Williamson Bros. business in 1881. This turbine manufactured in the same works at Kendal was installed at Cragside in 1885. The spin-off from Armstrong’s visit to Gayle would appear to be that John Christopher Cain Routh was aware of this development in electricity generation and was eager to copy Armstrong’s achievement by lighting his country seat, Clints House, at Gayle.

By 1890 JCC Routh had recently obtained all the shares in Gayle Mill to become outright owner, and fulfilled his dream of generating electricity using his 1878 Thomson Double Vortex turbine to light not only Clints House, but the street( Beckstones), and the mill. Evidence of this remains in the earliest switchgear equipment still located in the mill.

Second Phase

The success of JCC Routh’s venture appears to have created much interest by local entrepreneurs in the generation of electricity to be sold to local householders and businesses. By 1915 a company was formed based at Gayle Mill to trade by the name of Hawes Electric Company. A lease was obtained that year on part of the ground floor, evidence of the extent of the area, partitions etc, are still clearly visible. In addition the company built an extension at the southwest corner of the mill, which involved building up from the bedrock of the beck.

The purpose of the extension was to house a type of gas engine (more research is needed to establish the exact type). Evidence remains of the existence of a furnace in this area, Tom Alderson remembered it been fed with some type of solid fuel which created a gas to drive the engine. The foundations for various aspects of this machinery are now clearly visible following excavation of the drying shed floor. Along with this machinery the 1878 Thomson Double Vortex Turbine was also used by the company when not driving the sawmilling machinery. A coupling on the lineshafting enabled the sawmilling machinery to be disconnected, so that both sources of power could be used for generating. For many years the turbine was running 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The electricity generated was then stored on the top floor of the mill in acid filled batteries, the weight of these was so great that the floor had to be reinforced with steel girders (still in place). The recent archaeological survey, carried out under the leadership of Paul Johnson, has revealed acid staining on the floor boards from the batteries.

The amount of capital investment by the company and the fact that they were employing two fulltime men at the mill is evidence that they were generating a substantial amount of electricity, not only supplying properties in Gayle but also in Hawes. Verbal evidence of this was related to Brian Alderson by William Leyland who was employed by Hawes Electric Company as a young man along with George Iveson (Brassy Doad) who was the chief engineer. William and his girlfriend Rhoda, later to become his wife, spent many long nights, especially in autumn, keeping the trash grates clear of leaves etc to allow the turbine to run smoothly. The Burton family of Askrigg were pioneers of the early electricity generation in the dales and were instrumental in giving technical advice to the company.

The generation of the public lighting system continued at Gayle Mill until the mid 1930’s when the company relocated to an old mill near St Margaret’s Church, continuing their business using diesel engines. This continued until the National Grid arrived in 1948, the old mill was then demolished and the stone used to build WJ Dinsdale & Sons workshop at Gayle.

For over 30 years the residents of Gayle and Hawes had electricity for lighting their homes and streets generated by Hawes Electric Company.

Third Phase

The Hawes Electric Company appear to have been successful both in practical terms, and in financial terms for the benefit for their share holders. The only problem for their customers was the price of their electricity. This prompted the owners of Gayle Mill to source a cheaper supply other than that generated on their own premises!!

As the Thomson DV Turbine was contracted out to the Hawes EC (apart from use for sawmilling purposes) a second water turbine was purchased from Gilkes of Kendal. This turbine was direct coupled to a J W Hall of Oldham generator. This 1925 arrangement proved to be highly successful in generating electricity for lighting the mill until 1988.

This was to be a cheaper source of electrical power and as the joinery business developed, the workshop at Town Head Hawes, and the two adjoining houses were also supplied by this system. This continued until 1959 when regulations prevented the wires from the mill crossing over the National Grid cables.

After so many years of efficient service both the turbine and generator are still in good working order and when the water power system is restored will once again “light up” the mill!

Brian Alderson

6 May 2004