A HISTORIC Hampshire water mill is generating its own electricity for the first time in 15 years.

Staff at Chesapeake Mill are moving towards self-sufficiency with the resurrection of an ancient turbine, which is providing electricity to two floors of the building in Wickham.

The Grade II listed building, made from the timber of an 18th century American ship, opened as an antiques and retail outlet and museum in November last year. It had not powered itself since 1990.

Manager Susan O'Malley told the

Daily Echo the turbine was part of an

effort to go green and preserve the mill's

heritage. She said: "There were a few technical hitches getting it all up and running again, but we've wound it up and it will be a permanent fixture now. It's exciting times for the mill. We are also planning a coffee shop, which we hope will open in April."

The Bridge Street premises has a large turbine on the ground floor and a generator upstairs to power the mill. It's a step towards preserving the history of the mill, which was built with timber from the USS Chesapeake.

The mill was lovingly restored by import export company Taylor Haimes, which promised to preserve its future.

Careful renovation work cost hundreds of thousands of pounds and took months to complete.

Trading ceased at the mill in the early 1990s and it was bought by Hampshire County Council from the Tappenden family.

Historians were horrified when civic chiefs put it up for sale early in 2003.

They sold a 125-year lease towards the end of the year, with conditions which included preserving the character of the mill and allowing public access.