Vortex Turbine (with cover off)

James Thomson

Patented 1850

From Garnett 70.

The Thomson vortex turbine is seen as "the only water turbine type really native to this country" (Garnett 69). A Thomson double vortex turbine, built in Kendal in the Lake District, was installed in Gayle Mill, Wensleydale, in the late 1870s. This is still operational, and is considered to be the world's oldest such turbine still in situ. So impressed was William Armstrong when he visited the mill that he ordered an identical turbine for his Northumbrian home, Cragside, and it was duly installed there in 1885 (see Alderson).

Scanned image and text by Jacqueline Banerjee, 2011.

[You may use this image without prior permission for any scholarly or educational purpose as long as you (1) credit the source and (2) link your document to this URL or cite it in a print one.]

Related Material

• "The Yorkshire Dales in Victorian Times, Part I" (includes Gayle Mill)

References

Alderson, Brian. "The History of Electricity Generation at Gayle Mill." Friends of Gayle Mill. Web. 28 August 2011.

Garnett, W. H. Turbines. 2nd ed. London: Bell, 1908. Internet Archive. Web. 28 August 2011.

Last modified 28 August 2011