A bold new project is set to breathe life back into Cheddar’s long-standing hydropower heritage by installing a modern hydroelectric system at the site of Cox’s Mill Hotel. Once a bustling center powered by water, Cox’s Mill has a history dating back to 1863, when it first harnessed the energy of flowing water with a traditional water wheel. Its final turbine, capable of producing eight kilowatts, was installed in 1957 before the site was eventually decommissioned and left unused for decades.
The Cheddar Hydro Group, in partnership with Bristol Water, Cheddar Caves, and Cheddar Community Partnership, is now exploring the feasibility of reviving hydropower at Cox’s Mill. A study funded by the government’s Community Energy Fund aims to assess the potential to generate approximately 200,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) annually from the site—enough to supply electricity to an estimated 74 typical UK homes for a year.
To put this output into perspective, the power generated could boil enough kettles to make nearly two million cups of tea annually, with each cup requiring roughly 0.1 kWh. This clean, renewable energy source converts the kinetic energy of flowing water into electricity, providing a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels as long as water flow remains steady.
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Project leaders are enthusiastic about the mill’s potential not only to produce green energy but also to serve as a community hub for education and innovation. Plans include installing electric vehicle charging points powered directly by the hydro system and creating interactive displays that demonstrate how renewable energy is generated in real-time.
Richard Miller, Joint Project Leader, expressed optimism about blending history with innovation: “The original 1957 turbine, which generated a modest 8kW, will be preserved as a historic feature alongside the new system. We hope that Cheddar Hydro could become a beacon of sustainable energy use and community engagement in the region.”
The Cheddar Community Partnership invites local residents to get involved in the project’s development. Interested community members can reach out via [email protected] to learn more or contribute to this exciting renewable energy revival.