A busy weekend ahead

Message in a Bottle at Torrs Hydro

This weekend will see up to 5,000 people walk past Archie as part of the New Mills festival lantern parade the climax of an amazing festival of art, music and much much more besides.

Before the lantern parade there will be lots going on down at the Hydro - we have an open day planned from 1-3pm where you can come and take a look behind the scenes, walk down the fish pass and take a look inside the engine house and understand how Archie works.

Artist Amanda Whewell will be on site to talk about the installation 'Message in a Bottle' that is currently sited down at the Hydro as part of the New Mills festival.

...Round and round and round.....

In the words of Write Van Men Archie is going round and round again www.goodbyewatfordbridgeroad.blogspot.com

After a few day rest and a few hours hard work from the Directors and volunteers Archie is back in business.

 Several hundredweight of stone were moved and once again this Coop lights shine bright.

Archie - Goodbye Watford Bridge Road

Here's the song everyone is talking about - some great lyrics and fantastic footage of Archie - more information on the project which forms part of New Mills festival can be found here

Goodbye Watford Bridge Road

You know how Archie likes breaking records, well this time he has had one made about him - its one of he catchiest tunes we've heard n a long time.

It's a side project of present, former and occasional White Van Man members The Twad, Frank Seddon, Tony Audenshaw, Bernard Humphrey, John Patterson and guests under the name Write Van Men.

Twad, Frank, Tony and Bernard have written twenty songs with original music, all about the people, places and incidents of New Mills in the High Peak of Derbyshire.

Twelve of the songs will be released on a cd which will be available only in New Mills at Priscillla's, Bartons and Bryan the butchers. The songs will also have a digital release on the 14 records label on iTunes.

The project is part of New Mills Festival 2012 and there will be a live performance of all twenty songs at Spring Bank Arts Centre on Sunday September 23rd - but be quick as here's only a few left and these much sought after tickets can be found in John Bartons emporium in New Mills.

There's so much interest with the album that lead singer Tony is writing a blog which is a great insight into the band, the album and the strange goings on that make New Mills such a special place.

A well earned rest

Some have asked why Archie isn't running at the moment and there's a couple of reasons :

Our beautiful New Mills summer means river levels are much lower than earlier in the year - although looking back this has been our highest summer of renewable energy production since Archie was born.

Secondly at the end of August we had a storm that brought lots of river debris down to the Hydro intake causing a blockage, we are working with the EA to move the debris in time for an expected damp Autumn.

September 29 - Open Day and New Mills festival

Archies next Open Day is on Saturday 29 September from 1-3pm, come and join us as we celebrate New Mills festival.

Archie is one of the venues of the New Mills festival Arts Trail which forms part of the festival with an installation inspired by Archie by local artist Amanda Whewell.

Happy Birthday Archie

Nearly forgot that Archie has been going round  round for four years now providing the Co Op in New Mills with enough power to make 6 million cups of tea.