Tide Mills Harness Tidal Power

Tide mills are water mills powered by tidal rise and fall.

Tide mills usually sit in river estuaries near the sea.

A dam with a sluice creates a reservoir called a mill pond.

Tide water enters the mill pond through a one-way gate.

One-way gate closes automatically when the tide begins falling.

Stored water releases at low tide to turn a water wheel.

Tide mills date back to Roman times and the Middle Ages.

Woodbridge Tide Mill in England dates from 1170 and still works.

London had about 76 tide mills by the 18th century.

North America once had about 300 tide mills on the Atlantic.

Historic tide mills inspire modern tidal power projects today.

Woodbridge and Eling mills still produce flour in working order.