Electric lighting was introduced into several of the paper mills in Denny in the 1880s using the steam engines required for the motive power of the extensive machinery. It was, however, 1898 before the Carrongrove Paper Company, Ltd., got around to it.
After the opening of the Bonnybridge power Station and the laying of a cable to Denny, Carrongrove Paper Mill obtained a bulk supply from it, but retained its own generating capacity. On 6 November 1909 Alfred Peck, electrician, residing at Bonnybridge, on the staff of the Scottish Central Electrical Power Company, was engaged at the sub-station at the Carrongrove Paper Works, making a connection. Having accomplished the work, he was carrying out an examination, when he fell. His face came into contact with a live wire of 3,000 volts. Peck was frightfully burned about the head, hands and feet, and was removed to the Denny Cottage Hospital (Dundee Evening Telegraph 8 November 1909, 4).
The driving plant house contained 1,100 horse-power turbines and electric plant, and was badly damaged in August 1913 when the adjoining grass storage shed caught fire. Electricity was supplied to the nearby workers’ houses.
Hydro-electric power was also generated from the water at the weir across the River Carron.
The site of the paper mill was redeveloped for housing by Mactaggart & Mickel and in 2013 a 450KW hydroelectric turbine was installed by TLS hydro Power Ltd at the old weir. A fish ladder was installed at the same time.
Sites and Monuments Record
| Carrongrove Paper Mill | SMR 484 | NS 794 830 |
Falkirk Local History Society 