There's an old mill gone onstream... and it could power 20 homes

High Corn Mill in Skipton heralded a fresh era in its history yesterday when a new water turbine generator was turned on – with the potential to power 20 homes.

The turbine forms part of the mill's new historic innovation zone, which also offers a glimpse into the building's working past, showing schools and tourists how corn was originally worked.

As well as the original restored water wheel, visitors can see grinding equipment, old weighing scales and cogs at one of the oldest such mills in North Yorkshire,

Owner Andrew Mear said: "We have the history on one side and the innovation, which is the new turbine, on the other. The water wheel is there for visitors to come and see how things used to be."

Much of the work has been done by the 33-year-old property investment entrepreneur, whose father John, bought the mill in 1991, when it was "practically derelict".

Since then, it has been lovingly converted into a shop and office complex which still retains many of its original features.

"It's something I hope will be in the family for generations to come," said Mr Mear, who admits that working on the building was a labour of love.

The keen ecologist has installed energy saving measures in commercial properties he owns, as well as at his home in a former Victorian church in a small Halifax village.

Mr Mear said: "I think the way forward is that we build a new property that is as energy efficient as possible. Most of the things we do are with old properties, historic buildings. We try to make them as environmentally friendly as possible.

"It comes from my father. He lives in Spain but he flies as infrequently as he can. He is conscious of his carbon footprint. I have just taken on what he started.

"If someone tells you that you can put panels on your roof and it will generate electricity, you are a bit pessimistic but once you have seen it working and doing what it does, you are happy to do it elsewhere."

Most of the electricity will be used in the building itself.

Records show the mill dates back to 1310 when it was owned by Robert de Clifford, having been handed to the family by the then King Edward II.

However, the part of the mill that can be seen today is only half of what existed then.