Paxton set to work and in a little over six months had created a reservoir, the Emperor Lake, which provided sufficient pressure for the fountain to play to at least 75m. The lake occupied 3.5 hectares at an average depth of 2m, some 100m above the house; it was connected to the fountain by means of an 800m, 43cm internal diameter pipeline.

Almost 50 years later, in 1890, it was decided to make additional use of the works of the fountain to generate electricity.  The pipeline was extended to provide a head of 120m and diverted to a turbine house hidden to the side of the fountain.  Three ‘Gilkes Vortex’ turbines were commissioned in 1893, and between them they generated just under 90 kW – sufficient to meet the electrical need of the house for over 40 years.  However in 1936 the turbines were phased out in favour of the National Grid.

Early Vortex Turbine at Chatsworth House

Over half a century later, the Estate began investigating the possibility of recommissioning the turbines in order to reduce electricity costs.  In 1988, work began on the installation of a new system, consisting of one single jet ‘Gilkes Turgo’ turbine capable of producing 125kW of power. It was decided that the original pipeline would be used in the first instance, with the option of laying an additional pipeline at a later date (an additional pipeline would double the capacity and the turbine would become a two-jet unit capable of producing 250 kW).  By the end of the year Chatsworth was once again powered by water.  Routine maintenance is minimal, and consists of weekly checks by the Estate’s own maintenance operative.