|
In
1903 Rudyard Kipling decided to convert the Mill House
to produce electricity for Batemans. to this end
the water wheel was taken out and a survey completed to
enable a Chelmsford based company to specify a suitable
hydro electric installation sufficient to generate and
supply electricity to the main rooms in the house.
The
brick built outbuilding in the picture below was
converted to house a simple small generator. A
concrete foundation was poured in one corner of the
building on which a generator could be mounted, so as to
be belt driven from a water turbine.
Batemans
- Gilbert Gilkes Turbine
This
building is included on a Monument Protection Programme
commissioned in 1995 by English Heritage, along with The
Old Steam House, generating works at Herstmonceux,
Sussex. There are remarkable parallels between the
Baron de Roemer and Rudyard Kipling. Both had a
fascination for automobiles and electricity. Where
Kipling was content to harness the forces of nature to
provide light to his home, the Baron went further and
generated electricity supplies to a whole village.
Remarkably, these two buildings are the only surviving
examples of early electricity generation in
Sussex. The Herstmonceux
building is thought to be the only surviving example of
electricity distribution generation in Europe.
14"
pipes feeding - Gilbert Gilkes Turbine
Water
to the mill pond is supplied by two springs. The
original turbine was designed and built by Gilbert
Gilkes & Co. of Kendal, and it developed 4 HP
running at 280 r.p.m. Water consumption was about 2000
gallons a minute, supplied by 14" pipes with an 8'
head from the pond and a further 4.5' of suction from
the turbine waste piping. The electrical generation for the
project was carried out by Middleton, Electrical
Engineers of Chelmsford and the electrical generator was
supplied by Crompton & Co. of Manchester. The
turbine and generator was used to charge batteries in
the daytime providing enough current at 110 volts D.C.
to light ten 60 watt bulbs for four hours. In winter the
turbine would run continuously.
Gilbert Gilkes
manufacturers plates
South-East
Region | East
Sussex | Notable
House Sites | MultiMap
| The
National Trust
Batemans
- Burwash, East Sussex Tel: (01435) 882302 Fax:
(01435) 882811
Opening
times:
23rd March - 29th September. Closed Thursdays and
Fridays except Good Friday. 11.00 am - 5.30 pm last
entry 4.30 pm.
LINKS:
Battle
Abbey
Battle
Museum of Local History
Batemans
Bexhill
Museum
Bexhill
Museum of Costume & Social History
Bodiam
Castle
Buckleys
Yesterdays World
Carr
Taylor Vineyards
Clambers
De
La Warr Pavilion
Farmworld
Great
Dixter
Hastings
Castle
Hastings
Fishermen's Museum
Hastings
Museum & Art Gallery
Herstmonceux
Castle
Kent
& East Sussex Railway
Merriments
Gardens
Old
Town Hall Museum
Pashley
Manor Gardens
Pevensey
Castle
Rye
Art Gallery
Rye
Audio Walks
Rye
Castle Museum
Rye
Story
Underwater
World - Hastings
Sedlescombe
Vineyards
Shipwreck
Heritage Centre
Smugglers
Adventure
White
Rock Theatre
Winchelsea
Court Hall Museum
Herstmonceux
Electricity Generating Works Circa. 1900 -
1936 Links:
Introduction
| Instructions
| ISBN |
Batteries |
Boiler Room
| Floor Plan
|
Industrial Revolution
| Lime
Park | Machinery
| Map
| Power House
Public
Supply | Roof Construction |
Rural Supply |
Sussex Express 1913 |
Conclusion
Archaeology
South East | East
Sussex CC | English
Heritage | SIAS
|
