Dunster Watermill, one of Somerset’s most cherished historic sites, is inviting visitors to delve deeper into its rich heritage with the reopening of its previously inaccessible grain storage floor. This exciting reveal coincides with this year’s National Mills Weekend on Saturday, May 10, and Sunday, May 11.
Situated beside the River Avill within the National Trust’s Dunster Castle estate, the rare 18th-century double overshot mill has been operational since medieval times and continues to produce around ten tonnes of flour annually. The latest restoration focused on replacing the mill’s vital four-metre-long oak axle, which had reached the end of its life, with a robust greenheart timber version. Weighing over a tonne, the new axle took expert millwrights a month to carefully craft and install, with the project costing £26,000.
In a creative nod to the mill’s history, two benches were fashioned from the original oak axle by one of the estate’s gardeners, providing visitors a unique spot to enjoy watching the wheel turn in its tranquil setting.
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For the first time since the National Trust took stewardship in 2014, visitors can now access the bin floor—once used to store up to 100 tonnes of grain. A newly constructed walkway from the observation platform offers enhanced access to this upper level, enriching visitors’ understanding of the complete milling process.
Stephen Hayes, mill operations manager and project lead, expressed enthusiasm about the milestone: “The bin floor reopening has been two years in the making. We’re thrilled that visitors can now journey through three floors of the mill’s fascinating history.” He also acknowledged the vital support received from the West Somerset National Trust Association, Rural England Prosperity Fund, and a generous donor that made the conservation work possible.
The National Mills Weekend will showcase milling demonstrations, guided walk-and-talk tours, hand quern flour milling activities, and tastings of apricot spelt cake crafted from flour milled on-site. Visitors can also purchase a selection of flours at the Mill Shop.
David Payne, mill assistant, added: “We’re excited to host a full weekend of engaging activities, sharing this hidden gem with all who visit.”
The events will run from 10am to 5pm, with last admission at 4:30pm, on both Saturday, May 10, and Sunday, May 11.