The cogging of the great spur wheel is now under way and so is the installation of the two final layshafts. The crankshaft and flywheel are hoisted aloft and we have started to refurbish and fit the old parts of the waterwheel from Acomb below. Interpretation board design is underway so we shall all know what it is all about, when we are visiting the site.

Schools are also being involved in projects, St. Thomas More School have recorded some experiments on water flows and related wheel revolutions whilst Kell’s Lane pupils have been involved in model water wheel construction and experiments with the outputs of different types i.e. overshot and river wheels. They made a site visit on Tuesday the 18th. July before their Summer Holidays, and surprise was expressed as to how little water was required to power the real wheel.

Other exhibits are now taking shape, our edge runner stone is now standing with it’s shaft and needs a little brickwork and cement to complete.

Funding continues to come from various bodies, some on drawdown from European Regional Development Fund, approx. £4,000 and also a very welcome grant from a new body; the Local Heritage Initiative of over £9,000 for help with interpretation on site, a new colour leaflet and a very local history book of Path Head.

Volunteers still help us with their time and efforts, a lot of work is now required in gardening around the site as our flower beds expand and need weeding and our increasing grassed area needs cutting, but they all look beautiful!

We now have a Landscape Architect looking at our mill pond area and we hope to excavate more pond and create an island or two with connecting bridges this Autumn. A further project that he advises, is to make more use of our water resource to power working models i.e. tip up troughs, water engines, electric generation etc. etc.

So if you haven’t been to see us, come soon - it may even be Summer.